Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association relief news update from Âu Lạc (Vietnam).
On May 26, 2009, a heavy rain caused severe floods in the mountainous Tương Dương district of Nghệ An province. Five people lost their lives and two sustained injuries, with 20 homes that collapsed and over 200 that were damaged as well as up to 400 hectares of crops lost.

Especially affected were the ethnic minority residents in Pa-tý Village, where rice crops were submerged and many homes collapsed.

On May 28, Supreme Master Ching Hai donated US$15,000 for urgently needed aid, conveying her love and sorrow for those afflicted. This amount could purchase an equivalent of US$252,000 in materials if purchased in the United States, based on Âu Lạc's cost of living.

Our Association members from Northern Âu Lạc (Vietnam) quickly travelled approximately 500 kilometers to bring basic necessities to the affected people, especially those in the worst flood-affected villages of Yên Tĩnh, Yên Hòa, and Yên Na.

These villages were on a high mountain, about 50 to 60 kilometers away from the district center, and all residents were ethnic minorities, mainly the Khơ-mú and Thái, who make their living largely through growing vegetables.

On June 1, with help from the local government, the relief team was able to reach the mountain communities, where they delivered much-needed supplies to communities where houses had been swept away leaving only the foundations, and many residents were confused and distressed..

In Pa-tý, a small village that had suffered five human casualties due to the floods, the relief team went to comfort each household, bringing gifts to the families who had lost loved ones.

As the bridge leading to the village’s primary school had been swept away, our Association’s relief team gave the local government financial support to be able to quickly rebuild the bridge and enable the children to safely return to school.

The people in all areas conveyed their gratitude for Supreme Master Ching Hai’s reassuring comfort and care.

Hoàng Sỹ Thìn, Chief of Agriculture and Rural development Bureau of Tương Dương District (M): People here were very moved when they got Supreme Master Ching Hai’s gifts.
We ourselves feel that hers is a very noble spirit.
We are very thankful to Supreme Master Ching Hai and on behalf of People’s Committee of Tương Dương District and the people here, we respectfully wish her good health.

Đặng Minh Châu, Deputy Chief of Standing Commitee of Provincial Party Committee (M): On behalf of Provincial Party Committee and the local people, I sincerely thank Supreme Master Ching Hai for her kindness and the enthusiasm of your group.

Although the roads here are difficult and the weather is very hot, you’ve come to every house to give gifts in person. People here greatly admire and are deeply grateful to Supreme Master Ching Hai.

Lô Thái Sinh, Chairman of People’s Committee of  Yên Hòa village (M): I must say that Supreme Master Ching Hai has such a wonderfully kind heart. If we could have more people like Supreme Master Ching Hai, it would be so wonderful. People’s  difficulties and suffering would be lessened.

VOICE: Our thankfulness for the help of the local government in assisting our Association’s relief team.
We are also grateful to Supreme Master Ching Hai for her ever-loving support to those in need, and to our Association’s relief team for their devoted efforts to assist the afflicted.

Our prayers for the soon restoration of the Aulacese people to the normalcy of their everyday lives and that humanity’s greater benevolence will help ease calamities such as these.