Samaritan Purse Staff on the Ground in Haiti with Emergency Supplies on the Way
INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN RELIEF ORGANIZATION FLYING THEIR DC-8 AIRPLANE STOCKED WITH RELIEF SUPPLIES TO HURRICANE-RAVAGED HAITI
BOONE, N.C., October 5, 2016 —In the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew’s destructive rampage across the Caribbean, Samaritan’s Purse is sending its DC-8 airplane loaded with urgently needed supplies to Haiti. The organization is also sending a Disaster Assistance Response Team to join staff already on the ground to respond to the catastrophe. The plane will be loaded with 20 tons of essential items such as clean water, hygiene items, and plastic sheeting for emergency shelter.
Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, and this storm has brought extensive damage to the island nation that is still recovering from the 2010 earthquake. Torrential rainfall and high winds have caused severe flooding, washed away bridges, and damaged thousands of homes. Initial reports estimate that 2.5 million people have been affected.
“Hurricane Matthew has wreaked havoc on Haiti,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “Our teams are on the ground helping in Jesus’ Name. They’re going to do all they can to meet the needs of the suffering people there. Please pray for the people of Haiti as they recover from this deadly storm.”
The DC-8 airplane is scheduled to depart Greensboro, N.C. on Thursday morning, October 6th and arrive in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti within hours. Samaritan’s Purse is prepared to meet the immediate needs of 2,000 households.
Interview Opportunities:
- Ken Isaacs, vice president of programs and government relations for Samaritan’s Purse, who oversees the development, training, deployment and work of the organization’s disaster response teams. Isaacs has more than 25 years of experience working in complex emergency response situations internationally.
- Jason Edgerton, response team leader for Samaritan’s Purse, who is in Haiti and leading relief efforts on the ground.
- Chris Toews, deputy director of international projects for Samaritan’s Purse, who is coordinating relief efforts from the ministry’s international headquarters in Boone.
- Photo and video opportunities inside the DC-8, with relief supplies loaded
- Live shots from tarmac as plane departs: Thursday morning, time TBD
Samaritan’s Purse responds to the physical and spiritual needs of individuals in crisis situations. Led by Franklin Graham, Samaritan’s Purse works in more than 100 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine and persecution. For more information, visit www.samaritanspurse.org.
