Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association relief news update from Colombia. Following weeks of heavy rainfall in late November through December 2010, as many as 2 million people were affected by devastating floods. More than 310 people lost their lives while thousands of animals also perished, with sanitation and hunger problems that followed.

(All in Spanish)
Correspondent – Magdalena Department, Colombia (F): These families are very worried because many of them are still there in their homes, having had to do make platforms or “tambos” as they call them here, to be able to stay dry. Many of them have had to live even up to eight families in one small house.

Flood victim 1 (M): We had a big disaster, and we fled to higher land with all the children.
 
Flood victim 2 (M): Quite critical because this was a terrible thing for us, it all flooded and well really, we lost everything.

VOICE: On November 20, Supreme Master Ching Hai had conveyed her deepest sympathies and prayers as she offered US$20,000 in emergency aid and asked that our Association members please go to help the most desperate. This amount could purchase US$101,000 in urgent materials if obtained in the United States, based on Colombia’s cost of living. Supreme Master Ching Hai also reimbursed an additional US$1,000 to cover the relief team’s travel expenses.

Correspondent (F): The disaster relief team of the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association is delivering aid to affected families. At this time, food is being delivering to all those families who have had problems due to the floods.

VOICE: Our Association’s relief team first travelled to the municipality of Santa Ana in the Department of Magdalena, where they bought food for 550 families. The packages of rice, beans, lentils, oil, wheat flour, cornmeal and sugar cane were packed with the help of local Civil Defense workers and distributed by canoe through flooded areas to six communities.

Relief recipient (F): Master, thanks for the gift that you have brought to our people, and may God continue to bless you and we are very grateful for what you have done to our people. Young relief recipients: Thank you because now I have food. Thank you Master!

Ivan David Barreto Duque - Colombian Civil Defense (M): We offer our most sincere thanks to Master Ching Hai, who with much love and with great determination, has extended her hand to our nation, mostly in this forgotten corner. This assistance has come at the most opportune moment, when really all these communities are in need.

Relief recipients: Thank you! Master, may God give you many blessings.

Correspondent (F): Reporting for Supreme Master Television, from Magdalena Department, Colombia.

VOICE: With appreciation to the Colombian Civil Defense personnel, we also thank Supreme Master Ching Hai for her caring support of the flood-stricken people, as well as our Association’s relief team for their sincere efforts. Wishing the Colombian people a swift return to their productive daily lives, as we pray that such extreme events are lessened through our efforts to restore the environment.

http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/emergency-appeal-for-colombian-flood-victims
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/emergency-appeal-for-colombian-flood-victims