Peter Perez

International Rescue Group

Providing first-line support and humanitarian aid to disaster-hit people, using boats to deliver food, fresh water and medical supplies to help coastal communities until governmental or large-scale relief arrives. Disasters happen quickly and unexpectedly, but frequently people are more at risk weeks after the initial tragedy. For a small operation, the ability to help 1,000 lives after a single disaster is significant. This is a chance to make a post-survival difference to people and communities who are affected by tragic emergencies where there is never enough support, in that critical period until government, military or large organization support arrives. International Rescue Group is an organization that makes a major difference, a boatload at a time. Most staff are volunteers. The cost per person saved is targeted at $3 per day, possibly 10 times lower than the larger-scale rescue NPOs; this will be a remarkable achievement and will demonstrate the efficiency of this approach to the problem. IRG will coordinate with other emergency and rescue agencies or provide the service directly. One the concept is proven, we will scale the operation by engaging with the yachting and cruising community worldwide, providing training, certication and mission funding for other volunteer boat-owners.