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One year after an 8.8-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck off the coast of Concepcion, the second largest city in Chile, AmeriCares continues its support, providing medical aid and assistance for health care rehabilitation efforts in the region.
After the dual disasters devastated Chile’s coastline, AmeriCares responded to the government’s call for humanitarian aid with the immediate deployment of relief workers and airlifts of medical supplies to help survivors. More than 500 people were killed, hundreds of thousands lost their homes, and over two million people were affected. AmeriCares then raised more than $1 million to embark on a year-long rebuilding strategy with its partners, assisting in the recovery and rehabilitation of the region’s fractured health care system.
Over the past year, AmeriCares aid has helped re-stock pharmacy shelves to fill resource gaps and provided critical medical equipment to many affected hospitals and clinics; restored regional maternal and child health services through its fully-equipped transitional field hospital; assisted thousands of displaced families by distributing basic hygiene supplies; and supported the rebuilding of community-based mental health centers for victims.
Since 1989, AmeriCares has delivered over $17 million in medical and humanitarian assistance to Chile. For nearly 30 years, AmeriCares has responded with emergency relief and lifesaving aid to catastrophic disasters around the world that have affected millions of families: from Hurricane Katrina in the U.S., to the tsunami in Southeast Asia and the earthquake in Haiti.
TIMELINE OF A DISASTER:AmeriCares Response to the Earthquake in Chile
2010February 27
8.8-strength earthquake strikes off the coast of Maule, Chile and triggers a tsunami that wipes out several coastal towns. AmeriCares deploys relief workers to epicenter.
2010March
AmeriCares sends its first emergency airlift and works with local partners to deliver $730,000 in medical aid to help survivors, including 2,000 family hygiene kits.
2010April
Partnering with the Ministry of Health, AmeriCares constructs and equips a transitional, 50-bed field hospital on site for Angol Hospital to care for critically injured patients, children and maternity patients.
2010May
AmeriCares provides a grant for more than $45,000 for the purchase of hygiene supplies to help 4,500 families still living in shelters and camps. AmeriCares ongoing medical aid and supplies help re-stock nine regional health care facilities.
2010September
Angol’s on-site field hospital, supported by AmeriCares, reports 1,791 patients served since April, 101 new babies born, and 295 critical care patients admitted.
2010December
AmeriCares provides an emergency transport vehicle for the Angol field hospital and much-needed sterilization equipment.
2011Present
Through the Ministry of Health, AmeriCares provides $400,000 in equipment to nine affected hospitals and supports the reconstruction of mental health centers in the devastated coastal communities.
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