Haiti Relief Efforts Accelerate with Arrival of 400 Tons of Supplies and Machinery

Barge and Helicopter Fast-track Help for Quake Victims in Hard to Reach Areas

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Jan. 29, 2010—A barge loaded with 400 tons of heavy equipment and supplies landed in Haiti Friday, providing international relief organization Samaritan's Purse with bulldozers, backhoes, fuel trucks and other equipment that will dramatically enhance efforts to help earthquake victims - especially in areas around Port-au-Prince that have received little to no help so far because they are difficult to reach.

North Carolina-based Samaritan's Purse had disaster teams on the ground in Port-au-Prince within 24 hours of the deadly quake.  Along with the barge, Samaritan's Purse has so far flown in seven cargo planes packed with relief supplies and personnel-including more than 20 doctors and medical personnel who have helped treat people injured in the earthquake.  Samaritan's Purse plans to send a second barge filled with heavy-duty help from Fort Pierce, Fla., to Haiti early next week.

"The equipment on this barge will allow us to clear heavy concrete debris from devastated medical clinics, homes and churches," said Ken Isaacs, who is leading the Samaritan's Purse disaster relief efforts in Haiti. "Samaritan's Purse will immediately work on removing the debris from a collapsed medical clinic to help it become operational as soon as possible."

Samaritan's Purse has also begun using a helicopter to help broaden its relief efforts.  During the next several days the helicopter will be used to reach more than 50 remote orphanages that are in dire need of help with only four to five days of food left in some areas.

Teams of Samaritan's Purse staff are also continuing to set up community water filters, distribute water purification packets, blankets, hygiene kits, solar flashlights and rolls of plastic for temporary shelter.

In addition, chaplains with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's Rapid Response Team, who have been specially trained to offer emotional and spiritual care in crisis situations, are working with Samaritan's Purse in Haiti to help survivors deal with the emotional trauma of the disaster.

• Visit www.samaritanspurse.org or call (800) 528-1980
• Text "SP" to 85944 to donate$10

• Interviews with Samaritan's Purse disaster teams in Haiti
• Interviews, photos and video coverage of the barge arriving in Haiti on Fri., Jan. 29, and the loading of a second barge in Ft.  Pierce, Fla., on Tues.,  Feb. 2
• follow Samaritan's Purse via updates on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube

Ken Isaacs, Samaritan's Purse

• "The equipment on this barge will allow us to clear heavy concrete debris from devastated medical clinics, homes and churches."
• "Samaritan's Purse will immediately work on removing the debris from a collapsed medical clinic to help it become operational as soon as possible."

Dr. David Gettle, Samaritan's Purse chief medical advisor

• "The wounded and sick are coming to us by the busloads."
• "Without the ability to transport supplies through the rubble-strewn streets, we will not be able to treat them.  This shipment of machinery is as important as any medicine in helping us to care for these patients."

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

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