Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association relief news from South Korea.
On August 8 and 9, Typhoon Muifa drenched Jeolla and Gyeongsang provinces with torrential rains, claiming at least six lives. More than 1,320 residents were displaced, with over 150 homes and buildings inundated or destroyed. In addition to the damage inflicted to infrastructure like roads and bridges, nearly 24,000 hectares of agricultural lands were affected and over 650 greenhouses submerged, with some officials linking the disaster to human activities.

Choi Heung-Seok, Officer of the Environment Management Division of Jeongeup City Government, North Jeolla Province, South Korea – Vegetarian (M): Forests have been destroyed a lot due to animal-raising and farms.
And because of that, we had this devastation.  

VOICE: Conveying all her love and prayers, Supreme Master Ching Hai asked that our nearby Association members please go aid the most desperate, saying emergency funds would be available if needed.

Our Association members from Jeonju Center visited worst-hit Jeongeup city, where they consulted with a local official and were requested to go to Nongsodong District to help in the restoration work there.

Huh Sung-Woo, Chief of Nongsodong District Office, Jeongeup City, North Jeolla Province, South Korea (M): In Nongsodong alone, many riverbanks were destroyed, and 44 households were displaced as about 20 landslides occurred. The damage is so huge.

VOICE: On August 13, 20 of our Association members from across the nation joined the relief work. Guided by an officer, they visited watermelon farmers whose low-lying greenhouses had been submerged and helped to clean up the rotted fruit.

Bae Hee-Seok, Tomato and watermelon farmer, Nongsodong District, Jeongeup City, North Jeolla Province, South Korea (M): Water came up to knee-high in a blink of time. Watermelons all quickly decayed, like this.
Thank you for helping us as if it’s your own business. I can’t find the words to thank you.

VOICE: The relief team then went to the houses destroyed by the typhoon to help clear the debris and assist storm victims in cleaning household items and clothing that had been dirtied by mudslides.

Relief recipient, Nongsodong District, Jeongeup City, North Jeolla Province, South Korea (M): It was dangerous, and water came in, flooding the house, so I evacuated and went to my son’s house to sleep. I don’t know what to do and I’m disheartened now. The volunteers here are working so hard as if it’s their own work, so I thank them from my heart.

VOICE: Throughout the relief endeavors, our Association members gave each person Supreme Master
Ching Hai’s book, “From Crisis to Peace” so they could know more about the organic vegan solution to such disasters. The victims were touched by her care as well as the relief team’s diligent volunteer work, with local officials also expressing their gratitude.

Huh Sung-Woo, Chief of Nongsodong District Office, Jeongeup City, North Jeolla Province, South Korea (M): I’m truly thankful to the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association for their help!

VOICE: We join in thankfulness for Supreme Master Ching Hai’s wholehearted aid to the typhoon-hit, and for the assistance of our Association’s relief team. May humanity’s striving to more lovingly care for the Earth help alleviate disasters such as these.