ERBIL, Iraq, March 24, 2017 —ERBIL, Iraq, March 24, 2017—Samaritan's Purse's emergency field hospital just east of besieged Mosul has received its 1,000th patient since opening in early January—more than 435 of these patients underwent major surgery. Women and children make up roughly 50 percent of the current patient load, but all victims of war receive care, even ISIS fighters.
"We're talking about more than 1,000 patients—many who are critical and dying when they get to us," said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse. "That is more traumatic injuries in a matter of months than many large hospitals in the United States see in a year. I am so grateful for our medical staff who does an incredible job of providing life-saving care while showing the love of Jesus Christ."
Positioned to intercept the most critical patients who might not have survived the journey to the nearest permanent hospital—up to two hours away—the trauma hospital has received accolades from the United Nations for meeting this critical need.
The 54-bed trauma hospital is equipped with two operating rooms, an intensive care unit, a pharmacy and a laboratory. It was established in partnership with the World Health Organization and Iraqi Ministry of Health, and provides immediate medical care for people injured by chemical weapons, gunfire, mines and other explosives.
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES Iraq-based media: Contact us to arrange a visit to the emergency field hospital All media: Interviews with medical workers deployed at the emergency field hospital Interviews with Ken Isaacs, Samaritan's Purse vice president of programs and government relations B-roll and photos of the emergency field hospital in operation east of Mosul B-roll of the airlift of the emergency field hospital from the U.S. to Mosul in December 2016Since the battle for control of Mosul began in October 2016, Samaritan's Purse has also provided food assistance to more than 130,000 people in multiple displacement camps. The organization has supplied clean water, blankets, shelter materials, hygiene kits, cooking kits and shoes to displaced families and people returning to towns and villages no longer held by terrorists.
Recently, Samaritan's Purse began offering nutrition education in refugee camps and installed shelters in three of the camps, which function as safe spaces for women to breastfeed.
Samaritan's Purse has served the people of Iraq during times of need on numerous occasions for more than two decades, and has—with its latest initiative—maintained a continuous presence in the country since 2008.
About Samaritan's PurseSamaritan's Purse responds to the physical and spiritual needs of individuals in crisis situations. Led by Franklin Graham, Samaritan's Purse works in more than 100 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine and persecution. For more information, visit samaritanspurse.org.
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