Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association relief news update from Formosa (Taiwan).

In September, southern Formosa was pummeled by Typhoon Fanapi. The damage was severe, and our Formosan (Taiwanese) Association members began relief operations immediately afterward, as per Supreme Master Ching Hai’s request in such disaster situations. After receiving their updated reports, Supreme Master Ching Hai donated an additional US$20,000 on October 19 for any extra urgent needs, sending all her love and prayers.

Continuing the relief work, our Association members went to the affected Dahou and Yilin tribes in Laiyi Township that they had not yet visited. Although some of the mountain roads leading to the communities were still destroyed or covered by mud and rock, the relief team was able to reach them with the guidance of Dahou tribal chief, Mr. FuKuei Kao. There, they delivered supplies to the tribes’ 50 households.

(Aboriginal language)
Mr. FuKuei Kao, Tribal Chief of Daho, Laiyi Township, Pingtung County, Formosa (Taiwan) (M): On behalf of the villagers in Dahou, thank you so much, Supreme Master Ching Hai. Typhoon Fanapi had caused severe damages in the Dahou tribe. Thank you for bringing water, food, rice, and other supplies to our tribe. Thank you so much for Supreme Master Ching Hai’s thoughtfulness.

VOICE: Since the majority of villagers were elders and children, our Association members played games and sang with them. They were also touched to hear the elders sing them an ancient melody with the lyrics conveying their thankfulness as they invited our Association members to visit them again. The relief recipients also conveyed their delight to receive information on the healthy, eco-stabilizing vegan lifestyle via the SOS flyers and booklets of vegan recipes.

Mr. FuKuei Kao, Tribal Chief of Daho, Laiyi Township, Pingtung County, Formosa (Taiwan) (M): We are glad that many in the tribe have started to learn vegan cooking and the families are accepting the vegan diet.

VOICE: Our Association members also went to Wutai Township, where most of 1,200 villagers were still staying in a temporary shelter, as their electricity and water supplies were still out a month after the typhoon hit.

(In Chinese)
Mr. Yen Chin Mao, Head of Wutai Township (M): All our tribes suffered quite serious damage. For example, our own village, Chilu, had a landslide. The whole village was evacuated and is still staying with the Baiho tribe.

VOICE: Many of the villagers made their living growing taro, sweet potatoes, and millet. The blocked roads and bridges resulting from the typhoon meant that they were not able to distribute or sell their harvests. They said they also felt heartbroken and helpless to see that the beautiful landscapes of their childhood days were gone, as disasters were causing worse damage every year.

(In Chinese)
Ms. Ke Hsiu Mei, Representative of Villagers, Wutai Township, Pingtung County (F): Ever since I was born 50 years ago, this is the first I’ve seen such a severe disaster. So this is a big warning to us. We shouldn’t cut trees, dig the land at will; instead, we should plant trees. Certainly, sustainable diet is also crucial. We need to change our diet to be green to save the planet.

VOICE: Our Association members distributed a 30 kilogram bag of rice each to the 329 families in the Kuchuan, Chilu Tribe, and Wutai tribes, while conveying Supreme Master Ching Hai’s love and sympathies. The relief recipients were comforted and also glad to learn more about the Earth-protecting vegan lifestyle.

(Aboriginal language)
Ms. Ke Hsiu Mei, Representative of Villagers, Wutai Township, Pingtung County (F): Thank you very much, Supreme Master Ching Hai.

(Aboriginal language + Chinese)
Relief recipients + relief team: Be Veg, Go Green 2 Save the Planet! Thank you!

VOICE: We appreciate the assistance of all the village leaders as we also thank Supreme Master Ching Hai for her unconditional support and our Association’s relief team for their sincere endeavors. Wishing the indigenous Formosan people a smooth recovery of their regular day-to-day lives as we pray that our kinder stewardship of the Earth helps ensure the stability of our shared planetary abode.