Samaritan’s Purse Airlifts Relief Supplies to Help Families Fleeing to Armenia
BOONE, N.C., Oct. 7, 2023—Today, Samaritan’s Purse airlifted more than 30 tons of emergency relief supplies to help families impacted by a new wave of conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia. On September 19, violence erupted in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, forcing approximately 100,000 people to flee their homes in search of safety. This event marks the latest escalation between the two countries since Samaritan’s Purse responded to the 44-day war in 2020 that killed more than 6,000 people. As fears of further violence grow, desperate families from the contested region have poured into Armenia, straining resources and creating a humanitarian crisis.
Samaritan’s Purse disaster response specialists are already on the ground in Armenia, partnering with local churches to distribute critical aid such as linens, hygiene kits, feminine products, and cleaning kits to hundreds of people in need. The ministry’s DC-8 cargo plane will deliver additional supplies such as blankets, solar lights, and food.
In addition to these emergency supplies, Samaritan’s Purse has deployed two burn specialty teams to Armenia to provide surgical care for burn patients impacted by a recent gas station explosion that occurred in Nagorno-Karabakh.
“Conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has once again caused suffering, heartbreak, and chaos for thousands of people,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse. “As Samaritan’s Purse deploys life-saving aid and surgical care to this part of the world, please pray for God’s protection over the families seeking refuge and for our teams as they serve in Jesus’ Name.”
Media Opportunities
- Interview Edward Graham, chief operating officer for Samaritan’s Purse
- Interview Aaron Ashoff, deputy director of International Projects for Samaritan’s Purse
- Remote interviews from Armenia available in the coming days
- High-quality photos and B-roll available upon request
In 2020, Samaritan’s Purse deployed more than 22 tons of emergency relief supplies to Armenia on two DC-8 flights—including coats, boots, thermals, gloves, socks and beanies—for families affected by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. A team of disaster response specialists distributed emergency relief supplies such as winter kits, blankets, and food to more than 8,000 displaced families. Mobile medical teams also provided critical care to more than 500 patients.
About Samaritan’s Purse
Based in Boone, North Carolina, Samaritan’s Purse responds to 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.
