First Australian Responders Deployed to Ukraine Field Hospital

Kim Wilkinson -

International Christian relief organisation Samaritan’s Purse has just accepted its first patients at the Emergency Field Hospital located on the outskirts of Lviv. The 58-bed unit was airlifted to Poland on March 4th , then transported across the border to Ukraine.

The Emergency Field Hospital is equipped to meet critical trauma needs of patients impacted by the conflict. It contains an emergency room, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and two operating theatres — providing Samaritan’s Purse medical staff with the capacity to perform up to 30 surgeries per day.

Additionally, Samaritan’s Purse recently deployed two Australian Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) members — specializing in nursing and logistics—to assist in the humanitarian effort. Both DART members previously deployed to the Bahamas with Samaritan’s Purse to aid families in the wake of Hurricane Dorian.

“God calls us to go into crisis areas to help those who are most vulnerable,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “As the conflict escalates in Ukraine, our international disaster response teams with doctors, nurses, and other specialists are equipped and ready to help people in Jesus’ Name.

In addition to the Emergency Field Hospital, Samaritan’s Purse is also operating a 24-hour medical clinic at a train station in Lviv. Each day, thousands of women and children are transiting through the train station—fleeing violence and  searching for safety.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

  • Interview David Ingram, Executive Director Samaritan’s Purse Australia & New Zealand
  • Interview Edward Graham, vice president of operations for Samaritan’s Purse, who recently returned from Ukraine
  • The potential to speak with Australian disaster response specialists on the ground

CONTACTS:
Daniel Goh
Email: danielg@samaritanspurse.org.au
Office Ph: 1300 884 468

Erin Pollard
Email: erinp@samaritanspurse.org.au
Office Ph: 1300 884 468

Samaritan’s Purse is also working in Moldova and Poland to meet emergency needs as Ukrainian refugees cross the border. Disaster response specialists are distributing food, drinking water, hygiene kits, and other critical supplies.