Reverend Franklin Graham, president and CEO of Samaritan's Purse, visited an emergency field hospital in La Guaira, Venezuela, established by the organization to treat victims of the powerful earthquakes that struck the country on June 24. Graham was accompanied by his daughter, Cissie Graham Lynch, who serves as a spokesperson for Samaritan's Purse.
During his visit, Graham and his daughter offered prayers and encouragement to survivors and relief teams. The organization's field hospital in La Guaira has treated more than 2,500 patients, offering life-saving surgeries, including orthopedic procedures, and treating infections and other conditions exacerbated by the disaster. The facility includes two operating rooms, a pharmacy, and a laboratory.
"These people are surrounded by so much death and destruction. We want to bring the light of Jesus Christ into these places of pain," Franklin Graham stated. He commended the Samaritan's Purse teams for providing medical care, clean water, and shelter materials, and for offering comfort and prayer to grieving families.
Cissie Graham Lynch shared an impactful encounter with a local pastor who, despite losing members of his congregation, continued to serve his community. "He said it all when he told us, 'I am here to serve and win souls for Christ.' I thank God for that faithful pastor and for the opportunity that we have to encourage and support him as he shares the hope of Jesus Christ in Venezuela," Lynch said.
Samaritan's Purse has deployed more than 170 Disaster Assistance Response Team members to heavily impacted areas, including La Guaira, Playa Grande, and Caraballeda. Aid is also being distributed through church partners in Caracas. The organization has delivered 295 tons of relief supplies via six airlifts, with its aircraft being among the first non-military flights to arrive following the earthquakes. These supplies have reached over 10,200 families and include tents, tarps, solar lights, blankets, hygiene kits, cooking sets, and Spanish Bibles.
In addition to direct aid, Samaritan's Purse has installed four emergency clinic modules for local healthcare facilities, with a fifth expected soon. These clinics are equipped with medical supplies and generators to support ongoing healthcare needs. The organization has also deployed two desalination units, which have produced over 154,000 liters of clean water.
The earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, struck Venezuela just seconds apart on June 24, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Venezuelan authorities reported that the quakes killed more than 5,000 people and injured over 16,000, with La Guaira being one of the most severely affected regions. Reports indicate that the disaster caused widespread destruction, leaving thousands of families in need of emergency assistance. Many patients treated at the Samaritan's Purse field hospital have lost family members or close friends.
Survivors have shared harrowing accounts of their experiences. One father recounted rescuing a child from a collapsed 14-story building, describing the event as terrifying. Another individual was trapped for two days beneath the rubble of his collapsed apartment building before being rescued. He expressed gratitude for the compassion shown by medical staff, including a nurse who made him paper shoes, and found solace in the prayers offered by doctors, stating, "That's beautiful when they get on their knees and pray with me. I love that."