Samaritan's Purse Responding in Quake-Hit Venezuela
Samaritan’s Purse is responding in Jesus’ Name after Venezuela was hit by devastating earthquakes. Today the ministry’s 767 cargo plane airlifted life-saving supplies, including an Emergency Field Hospital, to the Latin American nation. Our disaster response specialists are on the ground in Venezuela, with dozens more to follow in the coming days.
June 27: Our 767 took off with approx. 45,000 kilograms of relief headed for Venezuela.
Back-to-back earthquakes rocked Venezuela within a minute of each other on June 24. Both tremors measured over 7.0 in magnitude; the second quake reached 7.5, making it the strongest to hit the country in over a century. Aftershocks continue, complicating search-and-rescue and relief efforts.
More than 1,400 people are confirmed dead and thousands more are injured or missing. Hospitals in the hardest hit areas were strained before the quake, and now many are damaged and overwhelmed with people in desperate need of care. Our Emergency Field Hospital is capable of treating more than 100 people each day. It will be equipped with multiple operating rooms, a critical care unit, pharmacy and laboratory. Samaritan’s Purse has also airlifted emergency shelter material, solar lights, and blankets to provide relief to families who are suffering.
“This is going to be a long-term effort. I think we’re only just beginning to understand the full extent of the destruction in Caracas and La Guaira. Multiple hospitals are damaged or overwhelmed, roads have been split wide open, and hundreds of buildings have collapsed. People are living on the streets—terrified of aftershocks. They need our prayers,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “It’s heart-breaking to see the suffering and loss. We love the people of this country, and we want to do all that we can to help in Jesus’ Name.”
Team members pray over relief items that were later airlifted to Venezuela.
Please continue to pray for residents of Venezuela, especially around Caracas and La Guaira. Pray for our response team and for their boldness while serving as the hands and feet of Jesus.
This article was originally published June 25 and has been updated through June 27.
Help Venezuelans in Need
Samaritan’s Purse is working to alleviate the physical suffering of the Venezuelan people after two massive earthquakes hit on June 24. We will be providing relief in a variety of ways, including through medical care and clean water. As we minister, we are pointing people, young and old, to the eternal hope found only in Jesus Christ.
