Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association relief news update from Haiti.
On Sunday, February 21, Haitian President René Préval announced that the fatalities from the massive 7.0 January earthquake may be as high as 300,000.

Meanwhile, over a million remain homeless and in need of medical attention and aid. Concern for the thousands of vulnerable orphaned children is also mounting.

In concern for Haiti’s affected people, Supreme Master Ching Hai has thus far donated US$94,000, asking as well that our Association members go to help as she highlighted the need for medical and surgical expertise, pain medication, and, most recently, waterproof tents to shelter the homeless.

Combined with contributions from our global Association members, the total emergency aid is US$422,000 to date, which could acquire US$15 million in supplies if purchased in the United States, based on Haiti’s cost of living.

With most covering their own travel expenses, our global Association members have been arriving from different nations to extend much-needed aid to the Haitian people.

With new shipments of soy protein and cooking equipment just received at the base in Carrefour, our Association's relief team will be able to continue serving vegan meals to the patients and staff at two hospitals as well as quake-affected communities.

The local Red Cross has also requested that the team provide food for 400 other patients sorely lacking food, in order to help them heal faster.

Meanwhile, the first truckload of 900 tents is being prepared for distribution to homeless families, with many more coming soon. In addition, over the past week, the relief team also distributed basic food supplies to four orphanages in the Port-au-Prince area, benefiting about 1,000 orphaned and disadvantaged children.

Orphanage administrator – Port-au-Prince, Haiti (M): I thank the Master Ching Hai for this gift, for this food which is very important for the children because without food we cannot live.

And especially with the people who attend school, who attend professional, technical workshops, they should have something to keep a good spirit. So we say thank you to Master Ching Hai who thought of us to give us this gift, this great gift.

VOICE: Our gratefulness to the governments, organizations, and volunteering individuals working to assist the Haitian people. We are also thankful to Supreme Master Ching Hai for her caring support and our Association members for their dedicated work.

May the victims recover in safety and wellness as such disasters are lessened through our greater consideration of the environment.