SW News: Churches and Christian organizations are at the forefront to rush medicines and essential health care equipment to the war-ravaged Tigray region of Ethiopia where the conflict has cut off food and medical supplies. The latest batch of medicines and hospital equipment was dispatched by Samaritan’s Purse.

The Christian organization’s DC-8 aircraft took off from Greensboro in North Carolina, USA, on February 15 with 13 tonnes of life-saving medical supplies for Ethiopia. Onboard are two anaesthesia machines, an X-ray machine, an ultrasound machine, and an operating table along with beds, IV supplies, and other essentials. This is the fifth emergency aid aircraft of Samaritan’s Purse for Ethiopia ever since the beginning of hostilities in Tigray.

Last year, four DC-8 aircraft with emergency aid reached the country. This time, too, aid was dispatched at the request of the Ethiopian government and the Ministry of Health. As a significant sign of partnership with Ethiopia, the aircraft with emergency aid was seen off by the Ethiopian Ambassador to the United States Fitsum Arega along with Samaritan’s Purse Vice President of Operations Edward Graham.

Samaritan’s Purse, the nondenominational evangelical Christian organization, also operates Mobile Medical Units in the East African country. As the Tigrayan conflict has created one of the worst humanitarian crises in the country, the charity organization has launched a food program in eight schools within the conflict zone, including a three-month food and sanitization aid to at least 1,600 school-age children.

Sending the aid, Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse, said that they “are airlifting these desperately needed supplies to save lives and let the Ethiopian people know that God loves them.” He also called for prayer for peace and unity in this conflict-torn land.