MAP International Aids Afghan Refugees with Medicines and Medical Supplies

MAP International
Thursday, 11 October 2001

Global Relief and Development Agency Coordinates Receipt and Distribution of Medical Relief Materials to Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

BRUNSWICK, GA, October 11, 2001…MAP International has been in planning discussions with three primary partner agencies for the receipt and distribution of medical relief materials to Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Plans for the delivery of essential medicines and medical supplies are being coordinated with Mercy Corps International, World Vision and Food for the Hungry.

Current plans for support from MAP will focus upon the provision of emergency medicines and supplies to agencies working with refugees in Pakistan. "Our final plan still needs to be confirmed, as the ongoing air strikes and possible responses add to the uncertainty of conditions for the delivery of relief," states John Garvin, MAP's director of relief. The shipment of goods directly into Afghanistan is not being planned at this time. However, access to the bordering countries is open for the provision of relief materials.

Agency partner, Mercy Corps (MCI), is coordinating with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to manage camps around Quetta, Pakistan, and also the southern region of Baluchistan. MCI has been working in the northern areas of Afghanistan currently under Northern Alliance control and has staff assisting 20-22 clinics and mini-hospitals inside Afghanistan. Another partner relief agency, Food for the Hungry, has been present in border countries since 1994, with a focus upon work based within Tajikistan. World Vision is working with refugee camps also located in the Quetta, Pakistan area.

MAP is in contact with numerous pharmaceutical companies in support of our efforts to secure medicines and medical supplies for this relief effort. Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies has offered to provide International Relief Modules for MAP distribution. Additional pharmaceutical companies such as Abbott Laboratories, and Kendall Healthcare Products, have expressed interest in supporting MAP's efforts,. In addition, Emergency Health Kits are also being procured from a European distributor for first response distribution. Each kit will provide medicines and medical supplies for 10,000 people for 90 days.

For more information, or to contact MAP International, see their website at: www.map.org