Samaritan's Purse

Today, Samaritan’s Purse airlifted a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) and over 24 tons of life-saving supplies to the Caribbean on our DC-8 Cargo Plane in response to Hurricane Beryl. Over the weekend, we prepped for the storm's potentially catastrophic impact by preparing our equipment, supplies and team. By noon today, the DC-8 took off to Grenada with 13 members of our DART along with 600 rolls of tarp, 3,000 solar lights, a desalination unit, 300 collapsible jerry cans, and a mobile medical unit. “Hurricane Beryl pummeled the Windward Islands, and left thousands of families in need of emergency relief,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “We started building out pallets of cargo before the hurricane even made landfall and are now on the way with life-saving aid. Please join me in praying for the families who are in the path of this storm, and for our Samaritan’s Purse staff who will be serving them.” As our team assesses the hardest-hit areas and provides aid to those in need, please keep them in your prayers. Most importantly, pray for the families devastated by this catastrophic storm and that they would know God loves them and has not forgotten them during this incredibly difficult time. Stay updated on our response and learn more at https://sampur.se/3XN6XsX

On Sunday, Samaritan’s Purse opened an Emergency Field Hospital in Carriacou, which will meet the immediate medical needs of those directly affected by Hurricane Beryl. It is now offering the only functional lab and in-patient care on the island after their hospital, Princess Royal Hospital, sustained severe damage during the storm. "We know the medical staff here have been really tapped out. Their hospital has been destroyed,” said Bruce Nisley, medical director of the Emergency Field Hospital in Carriacou. “We’re able to provide the support that they need for their hospital and especially their personnel because its been a hard time, and they’ve lost a lot so it’s a great opportunity for us to show the love of Christ to them in a great way." Please continue to be in prayer for all those directly affected, and for our team members working in Jesus' Name. For more information visit our website at: https://sampur.se/3zvuIeK

Hurricane Beryl roared through the Windward Islands as a Category 4 storm, leaving total destruction in its wake. The small island of Carriacou, took the brunt of the storm. The island is home to nearly 10,000 people living in familial communities where everyone knows everyone. The island’s landscape is littered with rubble, with mere scraps of homes, with roofless houses, and misplaced furniture. Nearly a week after the storm, there is still no electricity or running water on Carriacou. Samaritan’s Purse has been able to establish access to clean drinking water with our community water filtration and desalination system. The distribution point has become a hub of community activity and point of connection as families fill the jerry cans we provided to take clean water home to their families. Lucy Clement said it’s the worst hurricane she has ever experienced during a lifetime on the island. It was 100 percent worse than any previous Carriacou storms. Huddled in her bathroom with her disabled son and grandson and fearing for their lives, the hours were terrifying. Their neighbor’s roof landed on theirs, crushing their roof in the process. “Thank God. Praise God,” Lucy said, expressing relief that our water system could make the island’s brackish water drinkable. “It’s a desalination unit—wow, thank God. We just have to give God thanks and praise for all the helpers.” Please continue to pray for those affected by this disaster, and for our team members on the ground responding. Learn more at: https://sampur.se/4bCo1Fg

In the abundant southern farmlands of Vietnam, the morning humidity is already gripping to Kim Cuong as he goes about his daily labor. Because they live far off the main road, Cuong and his family don’t have access to the town’s water pipeline. At times, when they can afford it, Cuong buys water from a neighbor, spending a large portion of their meager income. Some parts of the year, however, the father has no work and no way to provide clean water for his family. Often, they resort to using contaminated water, leading to severe illness from waterborne diseases. “We store water in a large concrete tank, despite the water’s lack of cleanliness and occasional discoloration,” Cuong’s father explained. “This situation leaves us with no alternative but to use the water regardless of its condition.” Samaritan’s Purse has been working in Cuong’s community, and surrounding districts, to provide clean water directly to households. Recently, we installed one of these water pipelines to provide Cuong’s family with access to water inside their home. During the dry season in northern Vietnam’s highlands, it’s nearly impossible to find enough water to avoid dehydration, and the little that’s available is usually full of contaminants carried there during rainy season storms. We are thankful for how God has moved and provided clean water for so many people! Join us in continuing to pray over our work with clean water in Vietnam. To read the full story, click the link below. https://sampur.se/3WaZ9Qe

This morning, we deployed our DC-8 cargo plane again, marking our third emergency relief flight of the week. But this time, it is heading to a new response location in Jamaica. Today's flight included hygiene kits and additional tarp for the latest victims of the storm who are now beginning their long road to recovery. Also on board were the latest group of seasoned members of our Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART). Samaritan’s Purse is now operating across three island nations in the Caribbean: Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Jamaica. The ongoing response is utilizing more than 100,000 pounds of aid that we have flown in which will provide shelter, clean water, and medical care. This effort is being conducted by over 50 Samaritan’s Purse staff on the ground in coordination with local church partners throughout the Caribbean. Please be in prayer for the many people across multiple countries who are suffering. To learn more about this response and how you can get involved, visit the link below: https://sampur.se/3SquRHJ

A Samaritan’s Purse partner named Nataliya is leading a team of Ukrainians to help their fellow citizens in the region. Over the past year, they have provided over 350 families with emergency shelter materials such as tarp, plexiglass, and oriented strand board (like particle board) to help them patch together what is left of their homes. “Plexiglass is like a miracle,” said Nataliya. “It brings light into homes.” Where opaque materials have covered windows for months, sometimes hope takes the form of a clear piece of plastic. Before a Russian incursion, the house that Valeria* grew up in was filled with love and laughter as the home for her and her husband, their children, and grandchildren. But all that changed when artillery broke their 22 windows and left their walls damaged. Only because the roof did not collapse was the family able to stay in their home that overflowed with so many memories. Please continue to pray that God works through our volunteers. Pray also for their safety and peace as they continue to help people in a very unstable environment. To read the full story click the link below. https://sampur.se/3zpvmdK

This morning, we deployed an Emergency Field Hospital along with 29 additional disaster relief experts-including doctors and nurses-to Carriacou, Grenada after Hurricane Beryl devastated the island. The unprecedented storm caused incredible damage throughout the Caribbean, overwhelming local healthcare systems and leaving families vulnerable to numerous medical issues. This facility will enable Samaritan’s Purse DART members to provide critical emergency care to those in need, with the capacity for both inpatient and outpatient care, triage, patient referral, and more. Today’s airlift marks the second in three days as we mobilize response efforts in the Caribbean to aid suffering families in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. Samaritan’s Purse has been coordinating with local church partners since Hurricane Beryl began gaining strength last weekend and will continue to work alongside them to meet emergency shelter, water, and medical needs across multiple islands. Please join us in prayer for those directly impacted by Hurricane Beryl, as well as our DART team members. For more information and to get involved, click the link below: https://sampur.se/3RUWNT0 Or visit SamaritansPurse.org

Happy 4th of July! On this #IndependenceDay, we are thankful for the freedom we experience in the United States and are reflecting on the rich history of this great nation. We also praise God for all that He is doing through #OperationHealOurPatriots in Alaska this summer. Please join us in praying for the military couples who are experiencing true freedom through faith in Jesus Christ. To read more about this transformative project, check out the link here: https://sampur.se/3XWhthg

Samaritan's Purse has deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to Grenada to bring relief and life-saving aid to suffering families. This response is continuing to develop each day. Again, we ask that you please be in prayer for those who are hurting and in need from the catastrophic impacts of Hurricane Beryl. To stay updated on the latest information of our response and to get involved, please visit SamaritansPurse.org.

As hurricane season begins, Samaritan’s Purse is stepping up to enhance our disaster response capabilities nationwide. We are excited to announce the expansion of our Disaster Response Vehicle fleet. With 47 box trucks already equipped with essential tools and supplies at partner churches around the country, we're ready to respond rapidly wherever disaster strikes. Last Friday, we proudly commissioned eight new Disaster Response Vehicles into service. This event united representatives from churches across seven states, each returning home with a new vehicle to support their communities. When not deployed to disaster sites, these vehicles and tools help churches care for their local neighborhoods. So far in 2024, Samaritan’s Purse has responded to disasters in 18 locations across 12 states. Our dedicated volunteers, backed by these Disaster Response Vehicles and strong church partnerships, have been tirelessly serving homeowners in their times of need. Currently, our teams are hard at work in seven disaster areas, cutting trees, removing debris, tarping roofs, and sharing God's love with those affected. Please pray for our efforts and consider joining us as volunteers. You can make a difference by bringing relief and hope to families in need. To learn more about our disaster response work across the United States, please visit: https://sampur.se/45RQMwf