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

Since October 2010, the African nation has been struggling to recover from an unusually extensive and prolonged flooding, which claimed lives and left 200,000 with homes damaged or destroyed as well as lost food harvests. In the hard-hit municipality of Avrankou, the City Council issued an emergency plea for food assistance, as did the Benin government, including a request to our Association’s local relief team.

In response, Supreme Master Ching Hai had immediately donated US$7,500 for urgent food needs, an amount that could purchase US$232,000 in materials acquired in the United States, based on Benin’s cost of living. The Benin relief team was able to travel to Avrankou to deliver large supplies of rice, vegetable oil, and salt to the area’s multiple village populations.

(In French)
Representative of Mayor Georges S. Nounagnon of Avrankou, Benin (M): We thank Supreme Master Ching Hai for this significant gesture.

VOICE: Avrankou’s mayor also sent a letter of gratitude, with an excerpt reading as follows:

(Originally in French) Following my request to help victims of the Avrankou district, you kindly responded by delivering a large consignment of food consisting of rice, oil and salt. Very touched by your charity, the disaster victims of Avrankou hereby express their sincere and profound gratitude. For my part, I am writing on behalf of the Municipal Council of Avrankou and on my own behalf to express my gratitude and thanks for all your commendable gestures that provided relief to those in need. Please accept, Supreme Master, the expression of my deepest gratitude. Georges S. Nounagnon Mayor of Avrankou, Benin

VOICE: Our appreciation, governments of Avrankou and Benin for your caring efforts to ensure aid for the flood-afflicted, as we thank Supreme Master Ching Hai for her unconditional support. May Heaven watch over the recovering people of Benin as we all strive to restore the planet’s balance through more considerate lifestyles.