Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association relief news update from the Philippines.

Floods due to heavy rains starting in late December 2010 turned out to be the worst in a decade in some regions, as at least 18 people succumbed to the flood waters and more than 60,000 people in Albay Province alone were forced from their homes.

(Interview in English)
Helen Lontok - Assistant Regional (V) Director of Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippines (F): So many thousands of lives have been affected, and the province of Albay is the most affected.

VOICE: As many roads became impassable due to landslides, relief workers had to use boats to rescue people and distribute emergency supplies. Expressing her deep condolences and prayers, Supreme Master Ching Hai donated US$15,000 and asked that our nearby Association members please go if possible to assist the most desperately flood-stricken. Combined with another US$1,000 contributed by our Association members, the total US$16,000 could acquire US$225,000 in relief materials purchased in the United States, based on the cost of living in the Philippines.

Covering their own travel and related expenses totaling about US$560, our Association members from Formosa (Taiwan) joined local relief team members and went as soon as possible to Albay Province, arriving on January 12. The next day, 1,600 3-kilogram food packages containing rice noodles, salt, sugar, vinegar, cooking oil, soy sauce and cleaning materials were delivered to over ten evacuation centers. On January 14, more deliveries were made by boat to two remote shelters. In total, with the assistance of regional government and army personnel, the flood-affected families received 3,100 food packages.

Helen Lontok (F): Supreme Master Ching Hai, I can just thank the Supreme Almighty that there is such a person like you who is so caring to the less privileged people.

VOICE: With thanks to all the Philippine officials and military who have worked to ease the impacts of this flood disaster, we also are grateful for Supreme Master Ching Hai’s loving aid, and for the efforts of our Association’s relief team in bringing comfort to the affected. With condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, we pray for the Philippine residents’ rapid return to fulfilling day-to-day lives, and for the world to join in eco-friendly ways for the stability of our planetary atmosphere.