Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association relief news update from Bangladesh.
Beginning in early January, an intense cold wave chilled the tropical nation, reducing temperatures by as much as 5 degrees Celsius lower than average for this time of the year.

Over 50 people, mostly children and the elderly, succumbed to the cold, with many more seeking hospital treatment, while crop growth was also hindered.  With a sorrowful heart and prayers, Supreme Master Ching Hai donated US$15,000 for our Association members to purchase warm blankets and other urgent necessities and bring them to the most vulnerable victims.

This amount could acquire US$435,000 in aid if bought in the United States, based on Bangladesh’s cost of living. Our Association members from Formosa (Taiwan) left for Bangladesh as soon as possible, covering their own expenses of approximately US$1,100. After consulting in Sunamgonj with M. Zakaria Chowdhury, director of a local non-governmental organization and Md.
Imtiazul Islam, field officer of the international organization CARE the relief team went to the disaster areas that received the least help in Kurigram Province.

There, they distributed 2,300 blankets and conveyed Master’s heartwarming care to the victims. Our Association members also distributed SOS climate change flyers, to which the locals responded enthusiastically and expressed their deep gratitude to Master for her loving help.

Md. Rafiqul Hique, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Nageswari, Kurigram, Bangladesh (M): Nageswari is one of the poorest upazilas of Bangladesh; actually most of the people of this local area are very much poor.

So, I’m very glad to see that Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association has come here for to help poor people. So I thank this very international organization that they have come here for the welfare of the human being.

M. Zakaria Chowdhury (Juboraz), Director of CAP-Bangladesh (M): I’m very thankful and grateful to the Supreme Master Ching Hai for serving the poor, homeless and cold sufferer of Bangladesh. Thank you for your care throughout the world.

VOICE: Our appreciation, M. Zakaria Chowdhury and Md. Imtiazul Islam, for your assistance. We are also grateful for Supreme Master Ching Hai’s unconditional support as well as for the endeavors of our Association’s relief team. With our prayers for the wellbeing of the Bangladeshi people,
may such intense conditions be eased with humanity's transition to kinder, more eco-conscious ways.

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/MCOI-8DHE5U?OpenDocument&rc=3&emid=CW-2011-000004-BGD
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upazila_Nirbahi_Officer
http://www.carebangladesh.org/cw_oproject.php