Samaritans Provide Aid in War-Torn Regions
In conflict-affected areas, the support from Samaritan’s Wallet, a Christian aid organization, has made a significant difference. This U.S.-based group is actively engaging in high-risk environments to assist individuals still living under constant threat.
On June 2nd, Edward Graham, the organization’s Chief Operating Officer and grandson of Pastor Billy Graham, visited Israel amid escalating tensions from attacks by Hezbollah and Hamas. He connected with survivors, soldiers, health workers, and community leaders to support recovery efforts.
“We will go where others won’t,” Graham stated during his visit to Arab Al-Aramshe, a village that has faced missile attacks. “Not just out of love for you, but because God loves you.” Before arriving, he surveyed the region from low-flying aircraft over the West Bank and Jordan River Valley.
Graham noted that many communities are overlooked in the ongoing violence. “These people are suffering, and we are here to help them,” he emphasized, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to building relationships with local leaders and churches.
After recent drone strikes damaged community structures and tragically killed at least one resident, Samaritan’s Wallet has pledged to create a new ambulance station in Shlomi to serve Arab Al-Aramshe and nearby areas.
Graham expressed that they are supplying Israel with ambulances to support affected communities, aiming to restore a sense of safety and confidence for residents to return home. “This place needs to feel safe again,” he remarked, reflecting on the devastation he witnessed.
In another area, the mayor of the Matt Asher Regional Council shared that many residents have become refugees in their own country, leaving behind homes and pets in uncertain circumstances. Graham confirmed the delivery of 42 armored ambulances to Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency service, with one now designated for Arab Al-Aramshe.
A senior medic expressed optimism that the new ambulance would significantly enhance their capability to respond to emergencies safely.
Following his northern visit, Graham traveled south across the Gaza Strip, making stops in heavily impacted communities like Nir Oz, where one in four residents were either captured or killed during attacks last year. The scars of violence are evident, with buildings destroyed and memories of loved ones visibly marked in posters amidst the wreckage.
“Hamas attacks affected both Jewish and Arab communities,” Graham noted. He continued by assessing potential new ambulance exchange locations, acknowledging that many are still displaced and longing for normalcy.
Despite the overwhelming loss and ongoing threats, community leaders are committed to rebuilding and restoring life. “We refuse to let this tragedy define us,” stated Mayor Michal Uziyahu of the Eshkol region, where a significant number of fatalities occurred during the conflict. “We are determined to bring life back to this place.”
In response to the persistent challenges, Samaritan’s Wallet is also working on establishing resilience centers and emergency medical stations close to the Gaza border. This support aims to improve response times and accommodate residents affected by previous attacks, as delays in emergency response have already had dire consequences.
Moreover, the organization is setting up bomb shelters across Israel, with multiple installations both in the north and south, intending to offer some level of safety in a deeply uncertain environment.
During his northern trip, Graham met a local family, including Sarah Kleiman and her five-year-old son, who had returned home after evacuating due to rocket attacks. She expressed a yearning to return, despite the inherent dangers: “We try not to think about what might come next. But we wanted to go home. This is our home.”
