Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association relief news update from Colombia.
An exceptionally heavy rainy season since 2010 has claimed the lives of hundreds of people and displaced two million from their homes. At least 20 fatalities occurred in late April, when a river in Casanare Department burst its banks, surrounding 2,000 families in dirty, foul-smelling water.

Victim (F): My daughter was very sick with fever, vomiting.

VOICE: With her sympathies and prayers, Supreme Master Ching Hai on April 24 donated US$15,000, which could purchase US$73,000 in urgent supplies if obtained in the United States, based on Colombia’s cost of living. She also asked our Association members to render help, further reimbursing the relief team’s travel costs of US$2,680.

Mayor of Pore (M): For those families who have lost everything for the winter, their crops – destruction of bridges, destruction of roads, highways, the children cannot attend school – at this moment the situation is very critical.

VOICE: Our Costa Rican and Colombian Association members joined in forming a relief team that traveled to Casanare, where they obtained non-perishable food supplies including rice, beans, lentils, sugar, pasta, cooking oil, wheat flour, and cornmeal. These were packed in portions of a week’s amount for 700 families, many with children who were also caring for the elderly.

Over the next month, with the guidance of local government officials, 17 communities across isolated and difficult-to-access areas received food aid and other relief items.

General Secretary, San Luis Palenque (M): Supreme Master Ching Hai across the distance has seen and understood the suffering of these families, and we believe it is a sign of love for these people.Children: Thank you, Master!

Colombian Correspondent (M): Reporting for Supreme Master Television from Casanare, Colombia.

VOICE: With thanks to the Colombian officials, we also appreciate Supreme Master Ching Hai’s loving assistance and our Association relief team’s caring efforts. With condolences to the families of those who perished in these disasters, we pray that such extreme weather events may soon subside through humanity’s kinder stewardship of the ecosphere.