Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association relief news update from Indonesia.

Following initial activity in late October 2010, ongoing eruptions and unusual behavior from Mount Merapi volcano at Yogyakarta into December had claimed at least 353 human lives, not to mention countless animals, with some 390,000 distressed villagers being driven from their homes in efforts to ensure their safety.

(Excerpts in Indonesian)
Sukiman Mochtar Pratomo, Affected villager, Yogyakarta, Indonesia (m): This time Merapi makes us confused. Besides, the people get worried by the thundering sound, as well as sort of a leaking volcano. The wind has no direction anymore. That makes us restless too. And the forest is on fire because of explosions at the time of the eruptions. That is an unusual thing for Merapi.

VOICE: From the start of the catastrophe, Supreme Master Ching Hai had been closely monitoring the situation, conveying all her love and prayers as she donated US$15,000 and requested that our Association’s relief team go to bring aid and comfort to the most desperate. Along with contributions from our Association members, the combined US$18,600 donation could purchase US$216,000 in urgent necessities if bought in the United States, based on Indonesia’s cost of living. As per Supreme Master Ching Hai’s instructions, our Association’s relief team had immediately organized and started bringing aid to the afflicted the day after the first eruption.

They opened a public vegan kitchen, providing around 1,400 vegan meals every day to refugees and volunteers. They also taught displaced mothers how to cook wholesome vegan meals with easily accessible ingredients so that their families could continue to be well fed in the future.

Mrs. Anik (f), Public Kitchen Coordinator of Keceme Elementary School: As the coordinator of public kitchen, Mrs. Anik, I can only say thank you very much because the assistance from Supreme Master Ching Hai team really lightens our burden because food is a primary need in our lives and all meals from [Supreme Master] Ching Hai are really special for us.
 
VOICE: In accordance with requests from the Indonesian Red Cross, the relief team also purchased 500 medical packages and 500 sets of baby equipment, as well 1,000 sarongs, blankets and nutritional supplements for both infants and adults. Our Association members divided into two groups, and, accompanied by volunteers from the Indonesian Red Cross, visited 10 refugee shelters every day for a month to convey Master’s love and comfort to the displaced and distribute the supplies. As evacuees began returning to their homes, the relief team purchased 1.2 tons of rice and soy protein to give to 250 families in the villages of Banjarsari, Ledok Lempong and Sidosari.

Recipient (f): Yes, thank you very much Supreme Master Ching Hai for your help.

Banjarsari Village Chief (m): We thank Supreme Master Ching Hai very, very much for giving assistance to our people this afternoon.

VOICE: Our appreciation, Indonesian Red Cross, for your thoughtful help as we thank Supreme Master Ching Hai for her heartfelt assistance and our Association’s relief team for their steady efforts. With Allah’s grace, may the Indonesian people smoothly recuperate the regularity of their daily lives as our ecosphere stabilizes through humanity’s greater benevolence.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_eruptions_of_Mount_Merapihttp://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/indonesia-downgrades-mount-merapis-danger-level/409878