Our Disaster Assistance Response Team spent weeks serving refugees who fled Nagorno-Karabakh. Our work ended in late November.
When fighting erupted between the Caucasus nations of Azerbaijan and Armenia in September, more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians fled their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh in search of safety in Armenia. Suddenly living as refugees, they were left without basic necessities. Samaritan’s Purse saw their plight and began a response to help relieve their suffering on Sept. 28.
Over the next several weeks, our DC-8 cargo plane made two trips to the scene, airlifting 53 tons of critical aid, with special thanks to overflight permissions from Turkey. Our staffers gave out blankets, hygiene kits, solar lights, and more to grateful families. At the same time, our teams of doctors, nurses, and physical therapists treated burn victims with severe injuries from a gas explosion. All of this work was bolstered by partnerships with 42 local churches who helped in the distribution of relief supplies.
Doctors and nurses treated burn victims suffering from injuries from a gas explosion.
The Work by The Numbers
During this response, more than 35,000 Armenians received:
- 17,000+ Blankets.
- 9,600+ Toys and Games for Children.
- 8,200+ Hygiene Kits.
- 7,500 Solar Lights.
- 5,100+ Backpacks.
- 5,100+ School Kits.
- 5,000+ Bibles.
- 5,000 Gloves.
- 4,900+ Hats.
- 4,900+ Socks.
- 2,800+ Winter Coats.
- 470+ Surgical Procedures for 85 Patients.
- 270+ Physical Therapy Sessions.
- 270+ Cleaning Kits.
- 50 Stoves.
- 40+ Bedding Kits.
Most importantly, while our Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) offered this physical aid, they also pointed the refugees to the only source of eternal hope—Jesus Christ. They did so, in part, by handing out Bibles published in the Armenian language. Even now, weeks after our DART left on Nov. 23, Samaritan’s Purse continues to supply more than 50,000 copies of God’s Word for local congregations to use in outreach.
Our DC-8 cargo plane airlifted 53 tons of relief supplies to Armenia.
We thank God for the privilege of representing Christ to displaced Armenians in their time of need.
There will be more international crises like this one. You can help us prepare to respond quickly in Jesus’ Name by giving through our 2023 Christmas Gift Catalog.
Olga spent two months underground in a cellar turned bomb shelter. The war in Ukraine stripped her of nearly everything. Heading into winter, her town had already been without electricity for several months. Samaritan’s Purse partnered with local churches to deliver wood stoves to help Olga and many other families survive the harsh winter. We also worked with church partners to provide warm clothing, blankets, tarps, hygiene kits, solar lights, and construction materials. Your gift will help us respond in Jesus’ Name during wars and disasters, bringing critical aid to families in despair who need to know that “the name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (Proverbs 18:10).
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