Disaster Relief Team Provides 20 Tons of Food to Chile Earthquake Victims

Samaritan's Purse Mobilizes Emergency Workers and Supplies

Concepción, Chile, March 9, 2010—Following the massive earthquake that struck Chile, international relief organization Samaritan's Purse, headed by Franklin Graham, immediately mobilized a disaster response team from its office in neighboring Bolivia. 

Through a network of 40 churches, Samaritan's Purse already has distributed some 20 tons of food to earthquake victims. Daily distributions of food, water and blankets are continuing to families living in Concepción and the coastal town of Constitucion.

Samaritan's Purse is working with partners in the affected areas to assess the needs and determine the locations for additional relief efforts.

"Our prayers go out to the people of Chile in the aftermath of Saturday’s powerful earthquake," said Graham, who hosted a Festival a few years ago in Temuco, Chile, just south of the epicenter.  "We are in contact with our church partners to best determine how we can help during this great tragedy."

Samaritan's Purse is also actively working in Haiti and plans to expand its response to more than $25 million in aid for the earthquake-torn country.  On-going efforts in Haiti include distributions of food, shelter, water filtration systems, medical help and debris removal. 

Samaritan's Purse is a non-profit 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 has worked in more than 100 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine and persecution.