Secretary of State Rice Praises Samaritan’s Purse Relief Efforts in China

CHENGDU, China, June 30, 2008—During her tour of the earthquake devastated region of China, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice surveyed the work of international Christian relief organization Samaritan's Purse in the nation's Sichuan Province.

Rice praised the work of Samaritan's Purse citing it as an example of the generosity of the American people through private organizations going beyond the aid of the U.S. government.

"I am delighted and just moved to be here with Samaritan's Purse, providing clean water for the residents," said Secretary Rice.

Samaritan's Purse has installed water purification systems in a dozen communities. The water purification system that Secretary Rice was shown can provide 10,000 gallons of clean water a day.

The organization also distributed enough temporary housing materials for more than 3,000 families, and provided 16,000 blankets and tons of medical and health supplies. Samaritan's Purse also gave $150,000 to Chinese Christian leaders to assist with the disaster response.

Secretary Rice praised Chinese officials for being so attentive to their people and emphasized the importance of international organizations in the relief effort. "The governments are doing good work. I think it will ultimately be individuals and the people themselves, and great non-profit organizations like Samaritan's Purse that are here, providing the clean water."

Following the earthquake, Samaritan's Purse was the first non-governmental organization outside of China to airlift aid to the region. At the same time, the organization was airlifting tons of emergency supplies to help those devastated by the cyclone in Myanmar.

Headed by Franklin Graham, Samaritan's Purse provides immediate, no-red-tape response to the physical and spiritual needs of individuals in crisis situations-especially in locations where few others are working.  The organization is working in more than 100 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, natural disaster, poverty, famine and persecution. 

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