The biggest need on the island is water distribution, since there’s been no running water on the islands of Saipan or Tinian since Super Typhoon Yutu made landfall, according to Dr. Tiffany Lin, a former practitioner at Saipan’s main hospital system who has been assisting with emergency response.

Direct Relief is coordinating shipments of medical aid with the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation, which operates the only hospital in the Northern Mariana Islands, and with other health facilities damaged by the storm, staff have been working to treat patients needing care.

Commonwealth’s hospital is at full capacity, and running on generator power, Lin said.

A shipment of water purification supplies left Direct Relief’s warehouse on Monday, along with Emergency Medical Backpacks, which have been designed specifically for first responders conducting medical care outside hospital walls.

Two mobile clinics are up and running, one of which was deployed to the San Antonio neighborhood of Saipan, which was badly impacted by the hurricane, Lin said.

On the island of Tinian, Commonwealth operates a smaller clinic, which is open, but staff have been displaced since 80 percent of the housing has been destroyed.

Direct Relief also shipped an Emergency Health Kit, which contains enough medicines and supplies to treat 100 patients for 3 to 5 days. After emergencies, people are often displaced, and don’t have a supply of the medicines needed to manage chronic conditions, like high blood pressure and diabetes. Monday’s shipment includes chronic disease medicines, along with oral rehydration salts and rugged tents that are often used as temporary clinics when medical facilities are damaged or remain unstable after a storm. Basic personal care items are also being shipped for people displaced by the storm.

Super Typhoon Yutu is still wreaking havoc across the Pacific, and made landfall in the Philippines on Tuesday, when landslides killed at least six and displaced thousands.

Direct Relief is reaching out to partners in the region and stands ready to offer assistance if needed.

The post Emergency Medicines, Water Purification Supplies Bound for Communities Reeling from Super Typhoon Yutu appeared first on Direct Relief.

Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation operates the only hospital in the Northern Mariana Islands, and with other health facilities damaged by the storm, staff have been working to treat patients needing care.

The hospital, located on Saipan, opened its doors on Thursday to patients and had more than 100 people waiting outside, mostly for basic first aid, according to Dr. Tiffany Lin, a former practitioner at Commonwealth who has been coordinating emergency response.

The smaller, less populated island of Tinian was in the direct path of the storm. There’s no hospital on Tinian, so all patients there will be transferred to Saipan, according to Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation staff.

Commonwealth staff will be conducting medical outreach with a mobile clinic, and Direct Relief is shipping Emergency Medical Backpacks, which have been designed specifically for first responders conducting medical care outside hospital walls.

In addition to the backpacks, Direct Relief is preparing a shipment of other medical supplies and equipment. Over 40,000 water purification tablets are being sent, along with oral rehydration salts and rugged tents that are often used as temporary clinics when medical facilities are damaged or remain unstable after a storm.

Direct Relief is also shipping an Emergency Health Kit, which contains enough medicines and supplies to treat 100 patients for 3 to 5 days. Basic personal care items are also being shipped for people displaced by the storm.

Super Typhoon Yutu is the latest response Direct Relief has been involved with in the region. In 2015, Direct Relief was also able to send critical medical supplies to Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation after Typhoon Soudelor swept through.

The post Hospital Staff Working Overtime After Super Typhoon Yutu Pummels Region appeared first on Direct Relief.

The Category 5 storm is expected to cause catastrophic damage on the U.S commonwealth islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

Winds of this strength can rip homes off their foundations, uproot trees and power lines and inhibit rescue efforts.

Storm surge, flash flooding, and landslides are also major concerns.

Direct Relief has relationships with health providers throughout the Northern Mariana Islands, including with the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation on Saipan, which Direct Relief supported in 2015 after Typhoon Soudelor devastated the islands.

Direct Relief’s Emergency Response team is communicating with healthcare providers in Saipan and has offered to dispatch emergency medical supplies as well as hygiene items, water purification sets and medical tents.

Direct Relief will continue providing updates as the situation evolves and more information becomes available.

The post Super Typhoon Yutu Hits Northern Mariana Islands as Category 5 Storm appeared first on Direct Relief.