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

A week of sudden heavy rainstorms in the southern part of the country at the beginning of February brought deadly flooding and coastal waves that claimed some 20 lives and left 530,000 people affected. Among the hardest hit were 6,000 families in Jolo Archipelago, where government officials, along with the military, rushed to try and provide emergency aid.

(Interviews in Tagalog)
Mussah Hadjiri – Village Councilor, Barangay Asturias (Village) Councilor (F): The onset of the flood was abrupt, not more than a minute. When I looked out there, very suddenly everywhere were floating tree branches. I told them, “Run, run for your lives!”

Rashsah Yusop - Storm victim, Lugbak Barangay, Jolo, Philippines (F): In our place, the flood came abruptly; the tall houses, cars, everything, was washed away by the flood, even the big trees. I could only take myself and my child to escape.

VOICE: With all her tearful love and prayers, on February 8, Supreme Master Ching Hai donated US$20,000 for urgent items, requesting that our Association members go to bring comfort to those most in need. This amount could purchase US$281,000 in supplies if obtained in the United States, based on the Philippines' cost of living. Covering their own travel expenses of approximately US$2,100, our Association members arriving from the Philippines, Formosa (Taiwan) and South Korea formed a joint relief team and were able to reach the Jolo region after journeying several days via limited flight and ship transport availability. With the help of two local strangers and passengers on the ship, who expressed concern for the relief team’s safety due to local instability, our Association members were escorted by the Philippine National Police to the provincial disaster relief coordinating office where they met Jolo Mayor Mr. Hussein U. Amin.

(In English)
Hussin U. Amin – Mayor of Jolo Town (M): The water reached about 10 feet. And some other areas, 2-3 feet. About 95% of the residents totally and partially damaged their properties.

VOICE: The relief team immediately purchased items most desperately needed by the flood victims including rice and drinking water, along with soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and laundry soap. Over the next two days, they delivered these supplies to five of the most devastated barangays.

(In English)
Hussin U. Amin – Mayor of Jolo Town (M): We are happy to know that the almost 5,000 victims were given their necessary relief goods.

(In English)
Lolita Asiri – Jolo Municipal Social Welfare & Development (F): Supreme Master Ching Hai has responded immediately to the needs of the people. The group of Supreme Master Ching Hai’s arrival to this community is very timely.

VOICE: A local radio station live-broadcast an interview with a relief team member, providing an opportunity to share about the vegan solution to climate change.

Relief recipient (M): Thank you Master Ching Hai for your help, for your compassion, for us, the needy ones. You are the one who help us through God’s power.

Relief recipient (F): Supreme Master Ching Hai, thank you for the help that you extended to Jolo, to us flood victims. Many, many thanks to you.

VOICE: Our gratefulness to all the caring individuals and Philippine National Police personnel for your caring response to the storm-afflicted, as well as for Supreme Master Ching Hai’s unconditional support. We pray for the Philippine people’s soon recovery of their peaceful day-to-day lives and that such calamities diminish through our efforts to more kindly regard all fellow beings on Earth.