Samaritan’s Purse and Billy Graham Evangelistic Association combine resources to send some 90 tons of emergency supplies to Sichuan Province: “We pray that this brings relief, comfort and hope to the tens of thousands of people in China who have lost so much,” said Franklin Graham.
Filled with 90 tons of relief supplies, a 747 cargo jet chartered as part of a joint relief effort by Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association flew out of Charlotte today to bring urgently needed help people in the Sichuan Province of central China, where a 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit last week, killing a reported 50,000 people and injuring some 250,000 others.
The cargo jet was loaded with emergency supplies including enough high-grade plastic sheeting to provide temporary shelter to nearly 5,000 people, along with six water filtration systems – each with the capability of producing some 10,000 gallons of clean water per day, medical supplies, hygiene kits and blankets.
“The people of China desperately need these relief supplies,” said Franklin Graham, president and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. “We want the people there to know that we care about them.”
“The earthquake has no mercy, but people around the world have shown tremendous compassion and generosity,” said Minister Counselor Zhang Ping, who came to Charlotte from China’s embassy in Washington D.C. to offer his country’s gratitude for this relief effort. “These supplies being sent by Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association will be a light of hope for survivors. Please accept our respect and appreciation for what you have done.”
About Samaritan’s Purse
Samaritan’s Purse is an international Christian relief organization that provides immediate, no-red-tape response to the physical and spiritual needs of individuals in crisis situations—especially in locations where few others are working. Samaritan’s Purse currently has airlifted 45 tons of relief supplies from Bangkok, Thailand to Yangon, Myanmar to help cyclone victims. Relief supplies to Myanmar include water purification systems, plastic for temporary shelter, blankets, clothing and mosquito netting. Here in the United States Samaritan’s Purse has also deployed its Disaster Relief Unit to Georgia to aid tornado victims. Samaritan’s Purse is working in more than 100 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, natural disaster, poverty, famine and persecution.
About Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is a nondenominational, non-profit organization that reaches millions of people each year through Billy Graham television broadcasts, Franklin Graham Festivals, Will Graham Celebrations, the “My Hope” World Television Project, the Billy Graham Library, The Billy Graham Training Center, Decision magazine, “Hour of Decision” and “Decision Minute” radio programs and the internet.