Franklin Graham speaks about deploying aid workers to assist people fleeing Ukraine

BOONE, N.C. (WBTV) - Disaster response specialists from North Carolina-based Samaritan’s Purse will be headed to Poland and Romania to help refugees in the wake of the conflict in Ukraine.

The evangelical humanitarian aid organization is first sending initial teams to determine what the needs will be as they get ready to deploy more resources.

Videos and pictures circulating on the internet and social media show the devastation that has already happened because of the Russian invasion.

Franklin Graham, the CEO and president of Samaritan’s Purse, spoke to WBTV in a Zoom interview Friday evening.

“Well, our people are highly motivated and they’re motivated because of their faith in Jesus Christ and they’re going to help the people in his name, so you’re dealing with a team that’s motivated,” said Graham.

He explained that Samaritan’s Purse can help feed people and provide clothing. The organization also has a mobile field hospital that can be constructed so that doctors can treat trauma patients near disaster sites.

“You’ll have a couple operating theaters. We’ll have doctors that can do orthopedic as well as general surgery. You’ll have an intensive care unit. Of course you’ll have the wards,” said Graham.

It’s not uncommon to see Samaritan’s Purse deploy aid workers to assist people in the wake of natural disasters. The organization will also respond to parts of the world that have been impacted by military conflict. Graham explained that the humanitarian aid organization previously sent aid workers to northern Iraq when the country was plagued by attacks from Isis.

“We’ve learned every year and we just try to build on what we’ve learned and just make it better,” explained Graham.

According to a press release from the organization, Samaritan’s Purse works with more than 3,000 churches across Ukraine, and is in the process of distributing over 600,000 gift-filled Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes for children through the Ukrainian churches and ministry partners.

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