KILLABAKH, NSW – Samaritan’s Purse Australia has been deployed to bushfire ravaged regions in News South Wales and Queensland for the last three and a half months.

This video highlights where many houses were completely destroyed. During this deployment Samaritan’s Purse volunteers worked on multiple homes per day removing rubble and debris from properties, cleaning ash from water tanks, chopping down fallen trees, clearing land and most importantly caring for families and individuals who are struggling to comprehend how to piece their lives back together.

As the fires continue around the country Samaritan’s Purse continues to access where to help next as the job is huge and the help is limited. A simple way to get families started on the road to recovery is the provision of a Fire Recovery Kit. Each kit costs AUS$300 and includes tools and protective gear that can be used to clear land and find salvageable items in the rubble.

Sandra – Volunteer

“It’s one of those things you won’t notice, not really be able to put into words until after it’s all over.”

Freda – Homeowner

“Once the fire started approaching the house it was like we thought we were gone. We honestly thought we were gone. He’s driving down the driveway and the car at the bottom of the driveway blew up. Sorry. And I thought my husband had perished in the fire when the car blew up.”

Mike – Volunteer

“We’ve got nothing at all. It just had an effect on me. You turn the tap on and you’ve got running water. You think well I’ve actually got a house.”

David – Site Leader

“Sometimes when we do even the smallest job for them it seems to make a big impact. Consistent comments that we get back even when we’ve done a very small job they say wow I feel a little more in control now and they say wow I think I can see my way forward.”

Freda

“Up until just recently we just had no idea where to start like trees, fences. Well there’s now words that can describe the gratitude and the comfort of knowing that we don’t have to do this on our own. This is a start for us and now this is done we can start seeing a bit of light that will encourage us to keep going.”

The Samaritan’s Purse International Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) program is committed to meeting the critical needs of victims of war, poverty, famine, disease, and natural disaster. We stand ready to respond at a moment’s notice whenever and wherever disaster strikes. The DART specializes in providing water, food, shelter, and medical care while sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

To read more news on Disaster Relief on Missions Box, go here.