Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association relief news update from Brazil.
A sudden cold front on September 9 brought strong winds and tornadoes across northern Argentina, southern Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
In Brazil, 1.5 million people were affected, with four having succumbed to the storms as 168 others were injured. Over 8,000 people were evacuated, with more than 1,000 who completely lost their homes.
A state of emergency was declared in the state of Santa Catarina. Supreme Master Ching Hai immediately donated an initial US$40,000 in emergency aid for the region, requesting that our native Association members go to comfort and help the most vulnerable and desperate, while conveying her love and condolences.
This amount could obtain US$183,000 in supplies if acquired in the United States, based on the average cost of living in the affected countries.
On September 13, Supreme Master Ching Hai donated an additional US$30,000 for Brazil, which could purchase US$138,000 in emergency items in the United States, based on Brazil’s cost of living.
Our Association's Brazilian relief team covered their own travel and related expenses as well as donating US$1,112 of their own funds for relief assistance.
Per Supreme Master Ching Hai’s request for updates, the following is an excerpt of the relief team’s report.
September 23, 2009
Most compassionate Master,
Re: Tornado relief work in south Brazil Following Master’s instruction, our Association members from São Paulo visited the most affected areas of Santa Cecília in Santa Catarina state of south Brazil.
The local Red Cross and the fire brigade informed us that the region was already recovering and only some houses were unroofed by the tornado.
We distributed SOS flyers while explaining the connection between climate change and meat consumption.
Guaraciaba was the most affected county.
Upon our arrival on September 15, the Guaraciaba City Hall helped arrange the transportation for our relief work.
The City Hall was already supplying victims with construction materials and foods, so we offered financial relief. We also handed out SOS flyers and CDs on global warming, sparking the interest of many residents.
We travelled to several affected communities, giving residents financial assistance and SOS flyers, as well as sweets and medicines to the children to help comfort the affected families.
We covered our own travel expenses and spent some US$1,100 of our own money for the financial assistance to the victims.
Seeing Master’s rescue work, the TVBV team, a TV channel affiliated with BAND of Chapecó, Santa Catarina wrote an article about us.Thank you so much, Master, for your immense love and blessing to all!
Love from Association members in Brazil
VOICE: We send our appreciation to Supreme Master Ching Hai for allowing us to share this update with our concerned viewers, and to our Association’s Foreign Group for providing the report.
Our thankfulness for the assistance from Guaraciaba City Hall. We are also grateful for Supreme Master Ching Hai’s help to those in need. May Heaven bless the Brazilian people with swift restoration of their contented daily lives as we pray for a subsiding of these events as more people unite in kinder, eco-balancing ways.
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