Over the weekend, Samaritan's Purse deployed its DC-8 and 757 cargo planes to Porto Alegre, Brazil in response to the catastrophic flooding and landslides that have struck the nation. In less than two weeks, the onslaught of relentless rain has killed more than 100 people, displaced thousands, and devastated communities throughout southern Brazil. These critical aid flights transported more than 45 tons of urgently needed items such as community water filtration systems, household water filters, blankets, hygiene kits, solar lights, and more to the flood-stricken country. The DC-8 also transported 15 disaster response specialists.
Beginning on April 27, heavy rainfall has wreaked havoc across southern Brazil, leading to critical infrastructure damage, entire towns becoming submerged, and mass power outages affecting more than 1.4 million people. Some of the most severe needs experienced by families on the ground include a dangerous lack of clean water and basic hygiene items. Through close collaboration with Brazilian authorities, Samaritan’s Purse is committed to providing hope and life-saving aid in Jesus' Name.
"This terrible flood has devastated southern Brazil and left behind countless families who need our help," said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse. "With more than one hundred confirmed deaths and many people missing, our hearts grieve for these families and this nation. I ask that you please join me in praying for Brazil and for our Samaritan's Purse teams who are working to bring help and hope in the Name of Jesus Christ."
Over the coming weeks, working in close coordination with an extensive network of churches and local authorities, Samaritan’s Purse teams will provide clean drinking water, conduct life-saving distributions of essential supplies, and remind those hurting in Brazil that God loves them and has not forgotten them during this difficult time.
Mass displacement crisis leaves hundreds of thousands of people in need of food and shelter
Tomorrow, Samaritan's Purse will airlift more than 1,200 rolls of emergency shelter material to Sudan using its DC-8 cargo plane. The heavy-duty tarp will provide desperately needed shelter to more than 42,000 people suffering in Sudan.
Conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and a rebel militia group over the past year has caused widespread destruction across the country and led to millions of innocent civilians fleeing their homes. International experts are calling this the worst mass displacement crisis in the world. More than 600,000 people have sought refuge in the Kordafan region and are now living in makeshift stick shelters in overwhelmed displacement camps. The airlift of emergency shelter material will provide families with a dry place to sleep as rainy season approaches. Without adequate shelter, these families will be even more vulnerable to illness and other hardships.
The situation recently intensified as drought and locusts devastated harvests and food supplies. People are fighting for their lives and searching for anything to provide nutrients— rummaging for seeds, weeds, branches, and leaves to consume. Samaritan's Purse has been trucking convoys of food and nutrient-dense supplements into the area since April, delivering more than 2,600 tons of food for starving people—including mothers and babies.
“People in Sudan are starving, and they need help now,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse. “We have to act quickly because the rainy season is coming. We are airlifting shelter material and will continue to send in convoys of food to the region for as long as the roads are passable. Please pray for these families.”
Samaritan's Purse currently has more than 6,000 tons of food en route to the remote area in seven convoys and more trucks are being loaded. Each food basket contains enough corn, beans, salt, and oil to sustain a family for a month. Severely malnourished children can also receive special nutrient-dense peanut paste. The organization is also providing mobile medical care in internal displacement camps.
International Christian Relief Organization Providing Life-Saving Medical Support, Trauma Supplies, and Food Relief to War-torn Israel
Today, Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse, dedicated 14 new ambulances in Israel, which are being provided to Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel's national ambulance and emergency services agency.
“I believe in this organization. You risk your life to save life, and I felt that these ambulances needed to be replaced immediately,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse. “We pray that these ambulances will bring comfort to the people of Israel, knowing that someone can respond to any crisis, so we thank God and we thank God for MDA.”
During the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack, 14 ambulances were destroyed, and since the war began, 19 medics have been tragically killed. Samaritan's Purse replaced 14 ambulances today and in the coming months will expand Magen David Adom's fleet by providing eight additional armored ambulances.
“These are not just vehicles, but a symbol of life, courage and hope,” said Ophir Levy, father of 19-year-old Lior Levy, who was killed by Hamas. “Every time an ambulance goes on a mission, it will be like Lior and her friends are still helping and saving lives.”
The inscription of her name, along with the names of the other fallen medics, were unveiled for their families to see on the ambulances for the first time today, along with accompanying Bible verses.
A crowd of hundreds of people attended the moving ceremony at the National Library in Jerusalem where Yaakov Blitshtein, the director-general of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, and Magen David Adom Director-General Eli Bin spoke to grieving family members.
“There are no words that can comfort you or express our deep sorrow for the loss,” said Eli Bin, who leads Magen David Adom. “At a time when countries and international organizations chose to look away and ignore the horrors experienced by the people of Israel, Samaritan's Purse acted in accordance with the divine and moral commandment and reached out.”
“At a time when the Israeli people — and Jews around the world — are feeling alone, this donation is so meaningful,” said Catherine L. Reed, CEO of American Friends of Magen David Adom, MDA's U.S.-based marketing and development arm. “It's a testament to the fact that amid all the protests and the increase in anti-Semitism, the people of Israel and the worldwide Jewish community have friends they can count on.”
On Tuesday, Franklin Graham announced that Samaritan's Purse will continue to assist MDA by working with local municipalities to provide new ambulance stations in some communities that are constantly at risk.
In addition to supporting emergency medical services, Samaritan's Purse has provided 18,500 food boxes, nearly 4,000 hot meals, and more than 18,000 food vouchers to families in need. The N.C.-based organization also provided 1,000 Advanced Trauma Life Support kits to help the country's emergency responders in their work to save lives. A Samaritan's Purse Disaster Assistance Response Team deployed to Israel soon after the war broke out and is continuing to support local municipalities and church partners to meet the emergency needs of suffering civilians.
Today, Samaritan’s Purse deployed a second relief flight to Armenia containing more than 23 tons of emergency supplies to further assist families who have had to flee their homes because of the fighting. In less than a week since the international Christian relief organization’s first airlift to this crisis, Samaritan’s Purse disaster response specialists have distributed emergency relief items including hygiene kits and blankets to more than 700 displaced people. In addition to these relief flights and distributions, Samaritan’s Purse has three burn specialty teams on the ground who have treated more than 50 severely burned patients so far.
These emergency relief flights would not have been possible without overflight permissions expeditiously granted by the nation of Turkey. The international Christian relief organization is grateful to the officials who made this possible. Both Samaritan’s Purse and Armenia were able to help in Turkey when the devastating earthquake struck on February 6. Samaritan’s Purse deployed an Emergency Field Hospital which treated over 8,000 patients in Turkey, and Armenia sent invaluable search and rescue teams.
“As suffering continues for thousands of displaced families in Armenia, Samaritan’s Purse will continue to meet needs in Jesus’ Name,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse. “None of this life-saving work would be possible without the many faithful prayers from around the world along with our friends in Turkey who have granted us access to their airspace in order to help those suffering in Armenia. We are so grateful for their support and collaboration.”
The DC-8 cargo plane is transporting items including surgical supplies and equipment for burn patients, emergency nutrition commodities for people suffering from malnutrition, blankets, hygiene kits, and winter coats. One patient who Samaritan’s Purse medical teams treated for severe burns said that he now has hope because of the help he received.