Samaritan's Purse Responds to Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict; Airlifting 11+ Tons of Warm Winter Clothing to Aid Hurting Families in Armenia
BOONE, N.C., Nov. 5, 2020—As conflict rages in war-torn Armenia and Azerbaijan, Samaritan’s Purse is airlifting emergency relief to conflict-affected families who were forced to flee their homes. Since 1988, Armenia and Azerbaijan have battled over Nagorno-Karabakh with a recent upsurge in activity that began in late September. Escalating violence and bombings have forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. Now, these hurting families are in desperate need of basic supplies to prepare for the winter.
The international Christian relief organization’s DC-8 cargo plane is carrying warm winter clothes including coats, boots, gloves, socks, and blankets—enough to aid thousands of people including vulnerable children. Samaritan’s Purse also deployed a team of 16 disaster response specialists to the capital city of Armenia where some 80,000 people are now displaced.
“The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan is heartbreaking. Families are caught in the crossfire of a brutal war, and thousands have been forced to flee,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse. “Samaritan’s Purse is bringing critical relief to people in need—reminding hurting families that they are not alone and that God loves them. Please pray for God’s protection as families seek to escape the conflict, and for our teams as they help in Jesus’ Name.”
Samaritan’s Purse is also working with local partners on the ground to distribute food parcels and reach innocent civilians with relief. In addition to responding in Armenia, Samaritan’s Purse is in discussions with Azerbaijan and offering to provide emergency relief in the country.
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Based in Boone, North Carolina, Samaritan's Purse responds to the physical and spiritual needs of individuals in crisis situations—especially in locations where few others are working. Led by President and CEO Franklin Graham, Samaritan’s Purse works in more than 100 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine and persecution. For more information, visit SamaritansPurse.org.
