Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association relief news update from Kazakhstan.
In March 2010, heavy rains combined with unexpectedly rapid snow melt in the southern province of Almaty resulted in devastating floods that stormed through the village of Kyzyl-Agash as a dam burst in the Aksuisky region.

At least 44 people perished and 2,500 others were forced to evacuate. Hearing of this tragedy, Supreme Master Ching Hai expressed her deep sorrow and prayers and donated US$15,000 in emergency aid, asking that our nearby Association members go to help those most in need.

This amount could purchase US$590,000 in supplies bought in the United States, based on the cost of living in Kazakhstan. Our Association’s relief team from South Korea went to the affected area, contributing US$6,000 of their personal funds to cover their travel expenses and help with the relief.
Once there, they met with the deputy mayor of Aksuisky as well as the head of flood-swept Kyzyl-Agash.

Kyzyl-Agash village chief, Almaty, Kazakhstan (F): Snow melted, water increased and the dam could not withstand the water pressure, and poured into the village.

VOICE: Finding that the 2,500 displaced persons were most in need of cash aid, the relief team prepared envelopes containing a total of US$17,100. While distributing these, our Association members also spoke with the director of a village school, who said that their 10 computers had been lost to the flood. The team immediately donated US$3,000 to replace this equipment for the school.

The relief recipients expressed their sincere thanks to Supreme Master Ching Hai and our Association for coming from afar, with some saying they hoped the team could return later to see how the village had been restored.

Kyzyl-Agash village chief, Almaty, Kazakhstan (F): We are very grateful that at this difficult time, they contributed to help our residents. Many thanks for your visit to our village.

VOICE: We are thankful for Supreme Master Ching Hai’s loving support for the vulnerable, and appreciate the diligent endeavors of our Association’s relief team.

Our prayers are with the affected Kazakh people in wishing them a swift return to regularity as such calamities are minimized through humanity’s increased care for each other and the planet.