Samaritan's Purse Canada is preparing to airlift a field hospital to earthquake-stricken Myanmar.
A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar and Thailand on March 28 and was followed by a 6.4 magnitude aftershock just over 10 minutes later.
This caused multiple buildings and infrastructure to collapse in both countries, killing more than 1,700 people and injuring countless more. Emergency crews have been working around the clock to help find survivors, but the death toll is expected to climb as time goes on.
In response to a call for help from the Ministry of Health in Myanmar, Samaritan's Purse Canada, whose headquarters are stationed in Calgary, Alberta, will send its first-ever Canadian Emergency Field Hospital to Myanmar today.
"This deadly earthquake has killed over 1,700 people, and it’s left thousands of people in need, destroying entire communities," said Fred Weiss, executive director of Samaritan’s Purse Canada. "It is for this exact purpose that we have our Canadian Emergency Field Hospital prepared, ready to meet the critical needs for victims of conflict and natural disasters. It is our privilege at Samaritan’s Purse to represent thousands of Canadian donors and be ready to respond at a moment’s notice. Please pray for all those affected and for our teams as they serve."
Early this morning, 28 members of Samaritan's Purse Canada's Disaster Assistance Response Team departed from Calgary in a cargo plane headed for Myanmar.
Once they arrive, they will set up the Emergency Filed Hospital which will include two operating theatres, an emergency room, in-patient wards, a pharmacy and a laboratory.
In the coming days, Samaritan’s Purse will also airlift additional components of the large-scale field hospital, water filtration systems, emergency shelter material, flashlights, and hygiene kits.
The organization is working closely with local authorities and trusted church partners on the ground to coordinate relief efforts.
Samaritan’s Purse has a long history in Myanmar, having responded to Cyclone Nargis in 2008 and maintaining an in-country office from 2017 to 2022. Through its Operation Christmas Child program, the organization has continued serving children and families in Myanmar, sending more than 22,000 shoebox gifts last year alone.