BOONE, NC — Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief organization, responded to Hurricane Otis after the deadly storm destroyed homes, businesses, and livelihoods. The Category 5 hurricane rapidly intensified from a tropical storm over a 24-hour period—catching the town of Acapulco completely off guard.

Today, Samaritan’s Purse airlifted more than 19 tons of emergency relief supplies to Mexico, marking the third relief flight in response to Hurricane Otis. These cargo flights have carried more than 68 tons of relief items including household water filters, emergency shelter material, solar lights, cooking kits, and roofing supplies. Samaritan’s Purse also airlifted four community water filtration systems to Mexico. To date, these systems—which are specially designed by Samaritan’s Purse to be rapidly deployed in the wake of disasters—have produced more than 42,000 liters of clean water, serving over 8,000 people. Billy Graham Evangelistic Association chaplains are also on the ground alongside Samaritan’s Purse to minister to and pray for people in the local communities.

“This storm took everyone by surprise when it quickly picked up strength and struck the coast of Mexico as a Category 5 storm. It left thousands of families in desperate need of basic necessities like food, water and shelter. We are helping meet their physical needs by setting up water systems and distributing life-saving supplies in Jesus‘ Name. We want the people of Mexico to know that they are not alone and God loves them,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “We are deeply grateful for the assistance of Mexico’s Secretary of National Defense, Gen. Sandoval, the Mexican government and the Mexican military, which has been instrumental in unloading and transporting these relief goods to get them into the hands of those who are hurting most.”

Forty-one Samaritan’s Purse disaster response specialists are hard at work in Mexico, distributing relief supplies and providing hot meals in partnership with local churches and the Mexican Military. More than 21,000 people have received food packages and hot meals to date. In addition to food and water, Samaritan’s Purse has distributed 536 tarps, 1,800 solar lights, and 2,070 household water filters.

In addition to leading Samaritan’s Purse, Franklin Graham is president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, which worked with more than 2,000 churches to share the hope of Jesus Christ in Mexico City this past February. Graham preached to overflowing crowds of more than 52,000 people at Arena CDMX, and he is returning to preach in Mexico City again at the Palacio de los Deportes on February 17 and 18, 2024.

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.

Media Opportunities

• Interview Edward Graham, chief operating officer for Samaritan’s Purse
• Interview Luther Harrison, vice president of North American Ministries, overseeing the response to Hurricane Otis.
• High-res photos of Samaritan’s Purse working in Mexico.

Read more news on Non Profit / Faith Based Organizations, and Disaster Relief on Missions Box.