MOZAMBIQUE – About three weeks after Cyclone Idai hit Mozambique, the situation on the ground is still dire. Catastrophic flooding and high winds left historic devastation across the east African nation. Tens of thousands of people remain displaced, food is scarce, clean water is limited, and reports of cholera and other waterborne illnesses are already making headlines. Some areas remain flooded. Buzi, a rural town in Mozambique, was entirely under water as a result of Cyclone Idai. Now it is only accessible by boat or helicopter. This makes getting relief and supplies to these desperate families extremely difficult. Samaritan’s Purse is on the ground in Buzi and has opened an Emergency Field Hospital at the request of the Mozambique Ministry of Health. Our DC-8 plane arrived in country on Friday, March 29, carrying the materials for the hospital along with a community water filtration unit, nearly 2,000 jerry cans, and other critical supplies.

Already Samaritan’s Purse has been deploying a three-person medical team to the cyclone-created island each day. The needs are so great that every day counts. This mobile medical care has filled the gaps as we stand up a larger emergency medical response.

“We try to take every opportunity to offer them the love of God and offer them Jesus Christ. So sometimes we can do it a very practical way. Other times, it’s simply sharing the love of God with them — showing them that God cares, and being the hands and feet of God.

They need a lot of prayers. They need a lot of prayers for strength. They need a lot of prayers for hope, because they have a long road ahead of them. We would appreciate those prayers.” — Kelly Suter, RN, Samaritan’s Purse

Samaritan’s Purse: International Crisis Response

Samaritan’s Purse stands ready to respond at a moment’s notice whenever and wherever disaster strikes. We specialize in meeting critical needs for victims of conflict, disaster, famine, and epidemics throughout the world, often working through ministry partners on the ground. We provide food, water, shelter, medicine, and other assistance in the Name of Jesus Christ.

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