Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association relief news from Dominican Republic.
In late August, Hurricane Irene pummeled the north coast of the Dominican Republic as a Category 2, then a Category 3 storm, claiming at least three lives with several missing, and affecting thousands of families.
Heavy rains caused rivers to overflow as over 2,000 homes were destroyed.

Victim (F): The situation here was – look, all this is filled with water, everything.

Victim (F): The water was going to drown the children lying on the beds.

Victim (F): We thank God because were able to escape.

Victim (F): We were totally isolated.

VOICE: Offering US$15,000 for emergency needs, Supreme Master Ching Hai conveyed all her love and prayers as she asked that our nearby Association members please go if possible to assist the most vulnerable.

This amount could purchase US$83,000 in needed supplies in the United States, based on the cost of living in the Dominican Republic. With travel expenses of US$2,000 reimbursed by Supreme Master Ching Hai, our Association’s joint relief team arrived from Costa Rica and Colombia and coordinated efforts with the Dominican Republic’s Civil Defense offices to prepare emergency food packages.

Containing rice, beans, sugar, oil, pasta, corn flour, and tomato paste, the packages were delivered to 850 families in eight communities across San Cristobal province, as well as 400 families in two previously isolated communities in Santo Domingo province.

For many, it was the first aid received after the hurricane’s impact.

Relief recipient (M): Supreme Master Ching Hai was very pretty in her picture and I’m going to thank her and carry her in my heart forever.

Relief recipient (F): Even she being so far away has remembered us, the poor, who live here in this area.

Relief recipient (M): You do not know the support that you have sent to us, to this district, is the most necessary, the most necessary of many things.

Relief recipients (F, M): Thank you Master! Thank you, Master, and may the Lord bless you.

VOICE: We are thankful for the helpful efforts of the officials and Civil Defense personnel. Our gratefulness also for Supreme Master Ching Hai's loving assistance, and for the caring work of our Association’s relief team.

Wishing all the storm-affected residents a smooth recovery to the regularity of day-to-day life as we pray that such disasters are minimized through our gentler treatment of all fellow beings on Earth.