(Photo: Facebook/Samaritan’s Purse)
In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica is receiving critical aid from Samaritan’s Purse, which has dispatched a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) and essential supplies to help those affected by the disaster.
The hurricane, a Category 5 storm, has claimed at least 19 lives in Jamaica and caused significant damage, leaving many regions without power, clean water, or sufficient food supplies. In neighboring Haiti, the storm resulted in at least 30 fatalities.
Samaritan’s Purse has mobilized its DART team and transported necessary aid from North Carolina to Jamaica, with additional personnel and resources expected to arrive soon.
Preparations for the deployment began over the previous weekend, as forecasts indicated the hurricane’s increasing intensity. Supplies sent include water filtration systems, solar-powered lights, and materials for constructing temporary shelters.
Franklin Graham, President of Samaritan’s Purse, expressed his concern, stating, “Hurricane Melissa has pummelled Jamaica and left tens of thousands of families in urgent need of help. We are heartbroken for the lives that have been lost and are grieving with those who woke up without their loved ones today.”
He added, “Our teams began preparing before the storm even made landfall, and we are now on the way with life-saving aid. Please join me in praying for the people of Jamaica and for our staff as they respond in Jesus’ Name.”
The water filtration systems provided can serve up to 10,000 people, offering a vital resource in areas where clean water is scarce.
Initially, the hurricane’s destruction posed challenges to delivering aid, but with Kingston’s airport now mostly operational, the flow of assistance has increased.
Efforts by Samaritan’s Purse are being coordinated with the Jamaican Ministry of Health and over 250 local churches to ensure aid reaches those in dire need.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
