American Kidney Fund Activates Disaster Relief Program to Provide Aid to Dialysis and Post-Transplant Patients Affected by Super Typhoon Sinlaku

ROCKVILLE, Md. (April 17, 2026)  — The American Kidney Fund (AKF) has turned on its Disaster Relief Program to assist dialysis and post-transplant patients living in Northern Mariana Islands and Guam — U.S. territories in the Pacific Ocean that were impacted by Super Typhoon Sinlaku. AKF's Disaster Relief Program is the only rapid-response system in the country that provides emergency financial aid to dialysis and recent transplant patients. 

Super typhoons are the equivalent of a category 4 or category 5 hurricane, with sustained wind-surface speeds of 150 miles per hour. Super Typhoon Sinlaku hit parts of the Northern Mariana Islands on Tuesday night local time with powerful winds and heavy rain, causing significant damage. The storm also flooded the only hospital on one of the islands and power and water are out for at least two of the islands. 

"Access to health care can be challenging in remote areas like Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands and disasters like this one only exacerbate the problem," said LaVarne A. Burton, AKF President and CEO. "For people living with kidney failure, the impact of storms like Super Typhoon Sinlaku can be more dangerous and even deadly. Through our Disaster Relief grants, we aim to help alleviate some of the concerns these people are facing while navigating a devastating storm."

Emergency grants of $250 are available for dialysis and post-transplant patients living in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Disaster relief grants help patients with low incomes replace lost medicines and kidney-friendly foods (which may be spoiled due to power outages), pay for temporary housing and transportation to treatment, and replace clothing and personal essentials lost due to the natural disaster or the need to evacuate with little to no notice. 

People with kidney failure are more likely to experience hardships during a natural disaster, as interruptions to dialysis treatments can put them at risk for being hospitalized. AKF has developed a resource page for patients impacted by Super Typhoon Sinklaku in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, which can be accessed here. 

AKF has been providing emergency disaster financial assistance to kidney patients throughout all the major disasters that have struck the United States and its territories for the past three decades.  Dialysis and recent kidney transplant patients who need emergency financial aid should contact a social worker at their dialysis or transplant clinic for information on applying for aid or apply directly at gms.KidneyFund.org.