Today marks the beginning of the FIFA World Cup, and Samaritan’s Purse Canada has been invited by the Province of British Columbia and Vancouver Emergency Support Services to provide assistance for a different, vital role: emergency preparedness.
Behind the scenes of an international event of this scale, provincial and local authorities must ensure that the region is prepared for any unexpected crisis or large-scale emergency. As Vancouver will host seven FIFA World Cup events, Samaritan’s Purse Canada has established a Mass Care site.
Working in close partnership with Emergency Management B.C. and Vancouver Emergency Management, our Mass Care site will help ensure that local authorities have additional capacity at a time when every available accommodation across the region is expected to be in use.
“Our mission is to ensure that if a regional emergency or evacuation occurs during these events, there is an immediate safety net in place,” says Tammy Suitor, Canadian Disaster Relief Manager for Samaritan’s Purse Canada. “Large international events can place considerable pressure on communities, and this operation is one way we can help strengthen resilience and care for those who may be impacted by the unexpected.”
Our site leadership team is working diligently to plan and oversee this complex operation, seeking to offer a response that is well-organized, effective, and marked by compassionate care for every person we are given the opportunity to serve. We have set up hundreds of cots, chairs, blankets, pillows, hygiene kits, and privacy screens to create a safe, dignified space for any evacuees should a crisis arise.
“By standing with our provincial and municipal partners today, we ensure that no matter what happens tomorrow, the most vulnerable will have a safe place to turn and a dedicated team of staff ready to support,” says Tammy.
Please join us in praying for the city of Vancouver as they welcome many new visitors for the World Cup and for everyone’s safety.
