DDM collaborates with Doctors Without Borders to provide Syria with medical aid

To continue providing humanitarian relief aid in the aftermath of the Turkey-Syrian earthquakes, the DDM Social Welfare and Charity Foundation donated 3,000,000 NT dollars to the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) on May 25, in support of MSF's emergency response project in northwest Syria. Both organizations worked together to provide quality medical care, clean drinking water, and basic non-food essentials to local residents.

On the afternoon of April 14, Ludivine Houdet, chief-executive-officer of MSF, led a delegation to visit the DDM Charity Foundation and presented details of its Syrian emergency response project. Ms. Houdet said that MSF has long been providing support to local hospitals and health centers in Idlip and Alleppo, two governorates in northeastern Syria. Following the earthquake, MSF's on-site teams have taken in and cared for a massive flood of wounded citizens, set up contingent wards and prescription stations, and provided local hospitals with medical supplies and workforce support, in addition to delivering food, sanitary products, culinary equipment, warm clothing and blankets. Currently, it has launched a global fundraising campaign, and has invited DDM to collaborate.

The Charity Foundation said MSF is a highly reputable and reliable organization for its international disaster relief endeavor, with comprehensive international credit reports on its past endeavors, much aligned with DDM's ideals in this regard. Hence, the Charity Foundation has decided to participate in its emergency response project in Syria, sending medical aid and humanitarian relief to places in need.

The February 6 Turkey-Syrian earthquake not only severely devastated southern Turkey, but also seriously damaged northwest Syria. In addition to making a donation of 3,000,000 NT dollars and by means of the ROC Red Cross Society, DDM Charity Foundation promptly joined in the emergency relief and reconstruction program in Turkey initiated by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Furthermore, on February 13, they airlifted four tons of emergency supplies to the earthquake-stricken regions in Turkey, via a chartered flight arranged by Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


Text: Dharma Drum Mountain Social Welfare and Charity Foundation
Photos: Dharma Drum Mountain Social Welfare and Charity Foundation
Translation: Cheng-yu Chang (張振郁)
Editing: Keith Brown, Chia-cheng Chang (張家誠)