Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association relief news update from Haiti. The 7.0 earthquake on January 12 left over 200,000 perished, 300,000 wounded and more than one million people without their homes. With April marking the start of the nation’s rainy season, finding water-proof tents for the survivors is now a priority, one that our Association’s relief team is delivering upon Supreme Master Ching Hai’s earlier request.
Haiti Correspondent (F): Everyone is looking for tents to bring to Haiti. Tout le monde cherche des tentes pour ramener a Haiti.
Relief recipient (M): Okay, thank you. D’accord, merci.
VOICE: Since the catastrophe, Supreme Master Ching Hai has been closely following the situation, having donated US$60,000 while asking our Association members, especially those with medical and surgical expertise, to go and help.
One month later, the need is still immense and our Association’s relief team has been constantly renewing its doctors, nurses, and other professionals, with newest additions who just arrived from New Zealand, Formosa (Taiwan) and South Korea. Most team members covered their own travel expenses.
Along with donations from our worldwide Association members, the combined US$356,000 contribution thus far could obtain US$12.7 million in supplies in the United States, based on Haiti’s cost of living.
While visiting some of the most impoverished neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince to assess the scope of the need for tents, our Association’s relief team also delivered aid to several orphanages, one of which had been struggling to serve 270 orphans and disadvantaged children daily since the temblor.
Orphanage supervisor (F): We are the only [ones] to accept them, to give them food every day. Then you are coming to help us, to give food.
VOICE: In addition to supplying nutritious vegan fare, the relief team distributed toys and played with the children to help brighten their days.
Orphanage supervisor (F): Master Ching Hai, thank you for everything, thank you for her solidarity.
VOICE: Meanwhile, the relief team members continued to treat patients and cook meals for both staff and patients seeking help at the Adventist hospital in Carrefour.
In addition, when various medical volunteer groups embark to treat victims in remote areas, our Association’s relief team has been contributing large quantities of essential supplies.
These include much-needed pain medication, which was purchased per the request of Supreme Master Ching Hai.
Haiti Correspondent (F): We’re now in a second village. We’ve driven for over a half an hour, and in minutes, a team of five physicians with interpreters have been setting up a makeshift mobile clinic here to take care of men and women that are in this village that have not seen any doctor probably since the earthquake happened.
Every single doctor that comes here and volunteers carries as much medicine and medical equipment, supplies that they can take with them. Association members that are also part of the medical staff have also brought lots of boxes of over-the-counter painkiller, vitamins, and antibiotics.
Amy Nguyen – Director of Operation Hope for Children of Haiti (F): We just thank donations like yours and other NGOs and the military for coming to help, because if it weren’t for volunteers, none of this could happen.
Correspondent (F): Much of our medicine will be able to assist these people in the villages and the mountain areas that have not been seen and receiving care.
Dr. Amy Nguyen (F): The struggles are daily, but it’s balanced with hope, with a lot of prayer, with goodness, and love.
Correspondent (F): Reporting for Supreme Master Television in Haiti.
VOICE: Our appreciation, governments, organizations and individuals who continue to assist the Haitian people. We are also thankful to Supreme Master Ching Hai for her concern and unconditional support, and to our Association members for their contributions. We pray for Haiti’s recovery and wellness, and that the planet’s atmosphere is restored through our own more considerate lifestyles.
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