Samaritan's Purse airlifts 38,000 kilos of aid provides to Jamaica

[ad_1] Samaritan’s Purse, led by Franklin Graham , has airlifted greater than 38,000 kilos of emergency aid provides to Jamaica after Class 5 Hurricane Melissa tore by way of the island, leaving widespread destruction and hundreds homeless.

Lower than 48 hours after Melissa made landfall with winds topping 185 mph, the North Carolina-based Christian aid group deployed its Catastrophe Help Response Workforce and commenced unloading important help in Kingston.

"Hurricane Melissa has pummeled Jamaica and left tens of hundreds of households in pressing want of assist," Graham informed Fox Information Digital.

"Whole communities have been ripped aside, flooded and left in ruins. Many households simply had their whole world disintegrate round them. We have already got 38,000 kilos of aid provides and groups on the bottom with extra on the way in which. We would like these individuals to know that God loves and cares for them. He sees their ache — they haven't been forgotten."

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A person appears at a fallen tree in St. Catherine, Jamaica, shortly earlier than Hurricane Melissa made landfall Oct. 28, 2025. (Ricardo Makyn/AFP through Getty Pictures)

The primary Samaritan’s Purse cargo flight, a B757 from the group’s Airlift Response Middle in Greensboro, carried 1,500 household kits stuffed with tarps, ropes, photo voltaic lights, jerry cans and water filters. A second flight, a DC-8 jet, is scheduled to depart Friday carrying two group water filtration methods, every able to offering clear water for 10,000 individuals a day together with further provides and medical groups.

Edward Graham, the group’s chief working officer and Franklin Graham’s son, mentioned crews had been making ready even earlier than the storm struck. "Earlier than Hurricane Melissa even hit, our groups had been standing by — intently coordinating with our church companions in Jamaica , making ready provides, and loading our plane," he mentioned. "Now our catastrophe response specialists are on the bottom, and we're laborious at work to supply aid to households who're hurting. Please pray for Jamaica and these households who've misplaced a lot."

The storm knocked out power to much of the island , severed communications, and flooded whole neighborhoods in Jamaica’s southern parishes. Airport workers who processed the Samaritan’s Purse cargo mentioned it was the primary aid cargo to reach.

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<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/10/672/378/samaritans-purse-loads-757-airlift-hurricane-melissa.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/10/1344/756/samaritans-purse-loads-757-airlift-hurricane-melissa.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/10/931/523/samaritans-purse-loads-757-airlift-hurricane-melissa.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/10/1862/1046/samaritans-purse-loads-757-airlift-hurricane-melissa.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> Employees load pallets of emergency help onto a Samaritan’s Purse cargo jet on the group’s Airlift Response Middle in Greensboro, N.C., earlier than takeoff to Jamaica. (Courtesy of Samaritan's Purse)

Dave Holzhauer, who leads the group’s catastrophe response in Jamaica, described the devastation as "heartbreaking." "Whole hospitals, faculties, and houses have been worn out, and lots of households who had been simply starting to recuperate from earlier storms are actually beginning over once more," he mentioned. "Floodwaters stay excessive in some communities, and the necessity for hope and sensible assist is overwhelming. We’re working urgently to succeed in the hardest-hit areas — locations which are nonetheless minimize off by particles and flooding — with life-saving help and the love of Christ."

The aid effort is being coordinated with Jamaica’s Ministry of Well being and greater than 250 native church companions by way of Samaritan’s Purse’s Operation Christmas Child community. Officers say the group is ready to supply cell medical groups and emergency water methods as hospitals wrestle to reopen.

A Samaritan’s Purse workers member hauls a load of packed aid provides contained in the group’s Greensboro hangar forward of deployment to Jamaica. (Courtesy of Samaritan's Purse)

Vincent Rose, a church companion in southern Jamaica, mentioned many communities stay remoted. "We misplaced communication early yesterday morning and are nonetheless with out energy — probably for days to return," he mentioned. "It’s very unhealthy on our facet. Crews are attempting to clear the primary thoroughfare so the emergency restoration course of can start. As for us, we’re okay, although a number of water came into our home after shingles blew off the roof. Please proceed to hope for everybody right here as we start to recuperate."

Franklin Graham mentioned Samaritan’s Purse chaplains skilled by way of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association have additionally joined the deployment to supply emotional and non secular care. "Our mission is to fulfill bodily wants whereas sharing the hope of Jesus Christ," he mentioned. "As we ship provides and clear water, we’re additionally reminding households they aren't alone."

A Samaritan’s Purse B757 cargo airplane is ready for departure from Greensboro, N.C., carrying 38,000 kilos of aid provides sure for hurricane-ravaged Jamaica. (Courtesy of Samaritan's Purse)

Melissa grew to become one of many strongest storms ever recorded in the Caribbean , with winds topping 185 mph and widespread flooding and landslides reported throughout Jamaica. The hurricane left hundreds with out shelter and triggered a nationwide blackout.

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Samaritan’s Purse says further aid flights are deliberate within the coming days as crews proceed assessing wants. The group, which has responded to disasters around the globe since 1970, is asking for continued prayers and assist.