Samaritan’s Purse Deliver over 90 tons of Relief Supplies to Chengdu, Sichuan

By Luke Leung
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Zhang Ping, Minister Counselor at the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Washington, D.C., joins Franklin Graham at a press event announcing the airlift. (Samaritan's Purse)

U.S. based disaster relief agency chartered a 747 cargo jet that delivered over 90 tons of needed supplies from United States to Sichuan, China.

According to a recent statement released by Samaritan’s Purse, Samaritan's Purse staffs are helping to provide survivors with clean water in the city of Dujiangyan. They are focusing on the need for emergency shelter and clean water.

6.0-magnitutde earthquake struck the disaster zone on Sunday afternoon, the strongest aftershock since the 7.9 tremor on May 12, US Geological Survey said. It brought down over 70,000 houses that had been damaged in the original quake. Premier Wen Jiabao has said that the number of dead could surpass 80,000. More than 15 million people are homeless, six times as many as after the 2004 South Asia tsunami.

In the report, U.S. and Chinese officials said it was the first privately chartered relief flight from the U.S. to arrive in Chengdu, the capital of the hard-hit Sichuan province. The pilot said it was the first time a 747 cargo jet has ever landed in Chengdu.

The airlift included 1,140 rolls of heavy-duty plastic, enough to build transitional housing where over 3,400 families could live for up to two years, as well as 15,000 blankets, hygiene packets, medical kits, blankets, and other emergency supplies

Also on board were six large water filters, each of which can provide enough clean water to meet the daily needs of 3,000 people. The first two systems were put in place Sunday in villages outside the city of Shifang. Samaritan’s Purse will ship six more of the filters to China in the coming week.

The cargo departed from Charlotte, North Carolina, on Friday.

"The people of China have suffered greatly," Samaritan's Purse President Franklin Graham said. "This aircraft is a very small token of love for the people of China coming from churches and Christians to bring comfort and hope to the thousands of families that have lost loved ones."

Zhang Ping, Minister Counselor at the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Washington, D.C., was on hand to see the aircraft being loaded.

"The earthquake has no mercy," he said "But people all over the world have shown great compassion. Today we are witnessing another outpouring of compassion. These items are badly needed by the survivors of the earthquake."

Graham was in China meeting with Christians and speaking in churches when the earthquake hit. He encouraged prayer for the millions who have lost loved ones, homes, livelihoods, and possessions.

"I would ask all Christians in the United States to pray for the people of China and the church as they reach out to their fellow citizens with God's love and compassion," he said.

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