Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association relief news update from China.
On June 8, an intense rainstorm deluged western Luxi County of Hunan province in southern China with up to 120 millimeters of precipitation. Some 193,500 people in 15 towns and villages were affected.
Expressing her love and prayers, Supreme Master Ching Hai had requested that our Association members please go help those most in need. She also donated approximately US$9,000 in aid, an amount that could purchase US$64,000 in emergency items bought in the United States, based on China’s cost of living.
As per Supreme Master Ching Hai’s requests for updates, the following is a report from our Association’s relief team in China.
June 15, 2010
Re: Disaster relief in Hunan Province Most Beloved Master,
On June 13, we went to Luxi County and immediately contacted local government leaders to discuss relief work and specific arrangements. In accordance with Master’s instructions, we ordered good quality rice, cooking oil, mineral water, and other urgently needed materials.
Early the next morning, before the relief goods arrived, we visited a family whose home had been swept away by the debris flow, with three of the six family members who had perished, including the father who lost his life as he protected his severely injured youngest son with his own body.
The boy is now being cared for by his mother and 16-year-old sister, who were working elsewhere at the time of the disaster. To help them, we gave them Master’s monetary assistance. We then traveled 3 hours by car to another village, where 243 houses had been inundated, including 16 that had collapsed, and 200 hectares (3,010 mu) of rice fields that were affected.
Further cash aid was provided to the six families most in need there whose homes had been toppled, along with 25 kilograms of rice and 5 kilograms of cooking oil for each of the 43 families, totaling 198 residents throughout the village.
We also went to visit 17 families who were waiting for tents after being left with nothing but the clothes on their bodies when the storm and floods carried away all of their properties.
Each received monetary aid, as well as 50 kilograms of rice, 5 kg cooking oil, instant noodles and mineral water.
Throughout the relief work, our Association members also gave victims information on the vegan solutions for health, harmony, and sustainability.
The relief recipients conveyed their deep appreciation to Master for her caring gifts.
Many were moved to tears, including an elderly lady who kneeled down in thankfulness.
We, too, thank Master, for giving us the opportunity to share and experience your love.
China Relief Team
VOICE: Our gratefulness for the assistance of the Luxi County officials. We also thank Supreme Master Ching Hai for her wholehearted care for the vulnerable, as well as our Association’s relief team for their sincere endeavors. May Heaven bless the Chinese people with a smooth recovery of their productive day-to-day lives, as we pray that such tragic situations are alleviated through our benevolent regard for each other and the Earth.