In the aftermath of a massive earthquake, Samaritan’s Purse met physical and spiritual needs at our Emergency Field Hospital in Haiti.
When a 7.2 magnitude earthquake rocked western Haiti the morning of Aug. 14, more than 2,000 people were killed and over 12,000 were injured. Healthcare services on that part of the island were also incapacitated.
Samaritan’s Purse immediately responded to the tragedy, airlifting tons of critical relief supplies, including plastic tarp for shelter, water filtration systems, and an Emergency Field Hospital aboard our DC-8 cargo plane.
Our 36-bed mobile trauma unit opened on Aug. 21 in Les Cayes, the major city nearest the earthquake’s epicenter. Over 31 days, we treated more than 3,400 patients, including 125 surgical cases. Many of the surgeries saved the limbs and lives of trauma patients in the area–especially from the hard-hit neighboring town of Maniche. Les Cayes typically has 10 operating rooms, but that number was slashed to three after the earthquake hit.
Our medical team brought physical relief to patients, while also sharing God’s love with them and letting them know that He has not forgotten them.
“We offer aid in the Name of Jesus, and we let people know that there is hope,” said physician assistant Shannon Hamilton.
Please pray for the more than 1.2 million people impacted by the earthquake, including 540,000 children, many who have limited or no access to shelter, safe water, or medical care. Remember our Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) as they continue to meet both physical and spiritual needs for thousands of hurting families in Jesus’ Name. Though our field hospital has finished its mission, we continue to provide shelter and water to those in need in other quake-hit areas.
