Before Samaritan’s Purse arrived, thousands in China’s hard-hit Sichuan province did not have access to clean drinking water or adequate shelter, according to the Samaritan’s Purse report released on May 30.

Samaritan’s Purse has installed community water filters in six of the hard-hit communities, providing safe drinking water for people who previously depended on boiled or bottled water.

The filters, provided by Water Missions International, have been placed in villages outside the city of Shifang. Each filter can supply enough clean water to meet the daily needs of 3,000 people. These were the first filters installed after the quake, according to Chinese official state-media Xinhua.

Six additional water filtration systems will be installed. The total of 12 filtration systems will produce more than 3 million gallons a month, enough water to meet the daily needs of 35,000 people.

Those receiving the water aid expressed their gratitude towards the staff of Samaritan’s Purse.

“Your help is greatly appreciated,” a woman standing in line to collect water said to a staff, “You came a long way to take care of us.”

On May 24 at 11:50P.M., 90 tons of desperately needed relief supplies provided by Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has arrived in Chengdu, the capital of the hard-hit Sichuan province. U.S. and Chinese officials said it was the first privately chartered relief flight from the U.S. to arrive in China.

Deyan government official received the disaster relief supplies and expressed his gratitude towards this good will of Samaritan’s Purse.

In additional to water filters, the airlift included 1,140 rolls of heavy-duty plastic, 15,000 blankets, hygiene packets, medical kits, and other emergency supplies.

SP staffs have constructed model shelters in two towns and trained military personnel to duplicate the design with heavy-duty plastic and building materials. Upon completion of the project, 3,400 families will have transitional housing that can last up to two years.

Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham has also donated $300,000 US dollars immediately after the earthquake struck.

The death toll is now 68,977 as of Saturday noon, the Information Office of the State Council said.

A total of 367,854 people were injured and 17,974 others are missing, according to the office. More than 45.55 million people were affected and about 15.15 million have been relocated.

Four more aftershocks hit Sichuan province on May 27, measuring between magnitude 4.5 and 5.5, which injured at least 63 people and cause the collapse of more than 420,000 homes.

To support Samaritan’s Purse to earthquake victims, visit Samaritan’s Purse website at www.samaritanspurse.com.