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Boone, NC / Gaza – 16 August 2025
In a continued effort to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Samaritan’s Purse deployed its 757 and DC-8 cargo aircraft this morning, carrying more than 88,500 pounds of ready-to-use, peanut-based nutritional food packets. These flights mark the sixth and seventh airlifts in just the past month, underscoring the urgency of the situation and the organization’s steadfast commitment to serving vulnerable populations regardless of creed or nationality.
🔹 Background on the Crisis
The Gaza Strip has faced severe humanitarian challenges in recent months due to ongoing conflict and a tightening aid blockade. Access to food, clean water, and medical supplies has been critically limited, leaving families—especially children—at heightened risk of malnutrition and disease.
Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian international relief organization based in Boone, North Carolina, has responded with a series of emergency airlifts. Since late July, the group has delivered over 130,000 pounds of nutrient-rich food to the region. These peanut-based packets are designed for rapid nutritional support and are especially effective in treating acute malnutrition among children.
🔹 Humanitarian Commitment Beyond Borders
Led by President Franklin Graham, Samaritan’s Purse has long emphasized its mission to serve “in Jesus’ Name,” but its actions consistently reflect a broader humanitarian ethos. The organization has provided aid in over 100 countries, including regions where Christianity is not the dominant faith. In Gaza, where the population is predominantly Muslim, Samaritan’s Purse has worked through trusted local partners to ensure equitable distribution of aid.
“These food supplies are a tangible reminder that God sees them, cares for them, and has not forgotten them in their suffering,” said Graham in a recent statement.
The organization’s approach—treating all recipients as human first—has earned praise for its compassion and impartiality, especially in conflict zones where religious and political divisions often complicate relief efforts.
🔹 Insights on Similar Aid Missions
Samaritan’s Purse has a history of rapid-response humanitarian missions, including:
- Ukraine (2022–2023): Deployed field hospitals and distributed emergency food and medical kits during the Russian invasion.
- Haiti Earthquake (2021): Airlifted medical teams and supplies within 48 hours of the disaster.
- COVID-19 Pandemic: Operated mobile hospitals in Italy and New York City, treating thousands of patients.
In each case, the organization leveraged its aviation assets—including the DC-8 and 757 cargo planes—to deliver aid directly to affected regions, often bypassing logistical bottlenecks.
🔹 Looking Ahead
Samaritan’s Purse has indicated that additional airlifts to Gaza are planned in the coming weeks. The organization continues to coordinate with international and local partners to ensure that aid reaches those most in need, despite the complex and volatile conditions on the ground.
As the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, the efforts of Samaritan’s Purse offer a vital lifeline—and a powerful example of compassion transcending borders, beliefs, and politics.
You can read more about the ongoing mission on Samaritan’s Purse’s official update page.
Samaritan’s Purse Aids Plane Picture from Samaritan’s Purse
