Days of looting and lawlessness and a series of strong aftershocks have left many Chileans on edge since the massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck the country early Saturday morning.

Consequently, when the Samaritan's Purse disaster response team arrived in Coronel on Friday, people reacted nervously.

“At first they were scared because they thought we were looters,” said Daniel Zeidan, the leader of our response.

Moods quickly changed when they learned we were there to deliver desperately needed food and other emergency relief supplies.

“People were crying,” Zeidan said. “They hadn’t received any other aid.”

Our team distributed 5-6 tons of food, along with diapers, baby formula, and blankets, in the quake-ravaged towns of Coronel, Lota, and Arauto Friday morning and afternoon. All are places that had received no other assistance.

“We’re trying to reach the places where people are isolated and haven’t been able to get help,” Zeidan said.

Samaritan's Purse deployed a team from our country office in neighboring Bolivia in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake and a subsequent tsunami that wreaked havoc along the coast. They arrived in the affected area Tuesday, after a 54-hour journey.

“In every city we heard stories of houses being collapsed,” Zeidan said. “In areas affected by the tsunami there are boats and cars washed into the streets. It looks like a war zone, really.”

Our team immediately began setting up a pipeline to secure food and a network to distribute aid. We are working through about 40 churches from different denominations. Some are part of our Operation Christmas Child efforts in Chile. Others heard about our relief work by word of mouth and volunteered to help.

Church members are joining our staff when we distribute aid and letting earthquake victims know of God’s love and concern.

“We pray with them, we share the Gospel,” Zeidan said. “They cry. They can’t believe people came in from Bolivia and helped them before their own government did.”

Samaritan's Purse has given out about 12 tons of food so far. We will continue to distribute food and other aid over the next few days. We also are assessing how we can best supply clean water to affected populations.

Samaritan's Purse , Chile , Emergency Relief , Tears of Joy, Relief