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

In September, the island’s most major storm of the year caused severe flooding in southern regions, with three people who lost their lives and 75 others injured.

As per Supreme Master Ching Hai’s request at the time, our Formosan (Taiwanese) Association members immediately traveled to the affected regions to assist the area’s residents. Upon receiving their report of the situation, Supreme Master Ching Hai conveyed her love and prayers for the storm victims and asked that our Association’s relief team please check to see if more help was required. Offering further funds if needed, she requested that they continue the relief work as necessary.

Following their next assessments, two relief teams set out with approximately US$13,000 that had been donated by our Formosan Association members. While one group worked in Kaohsiung, the other relief team went to Pingtung County, where 890 villagers from 547 households in Laiyi, Sandimen and Maijia townships had been displaced. In Laiyi, which suffered the greatest losses, continued torrential rains had also set off a massive landslide, causing many residents to lose their dwellings and all their belongings. Residents told our Association members that when they went to clean up their homes, all they could see was mud and rocks. However, they said they could not afford to buy a new house and did not know where to go to live or find a job.

Our Association members purchased vegan food supplies and other necessities, making several trips to deliver them to the grateful victims who were staying in shelters or some, in their damaged homes. The supplies included hundreds of boxes of vegan food items, drinking water, soy milk powder, tissue paper, towels, and diapers, as well as monetary aid to 40 of the households that were most in need.

(In Chinese)
Relief team member (M): We have arranged a couple of relief supplies deliveries. Today is the third time, and we are also distributing emergency funds. On behalf of Supreme Master Ching Hai, we would like to express our warm regards to you. We also hope that you will be able to quickly restore your homes.

(Aboriginal language)
Villager, Laiyi Township (M): I’m grateful for the love from Supreme Master Ching Hai. We have received abundant supplies.

(In Chinese)
Liang Ming-hui, Chairman, Aboriginal Cultural and Educational Association, Pingtung County (M): We are very grateful for Supreme Master Ching Hai’s love. Right after Typhoon Fanapi passed, Supreme Master Ching Hai’s team was the first group who called us.

VOICE: We also are thankful for Supreme Master Ching Hai’s unconditional support, as well as for the endeavors of our Association’s relief teams. May the Formosan people be graced to smoothly recover the regularity of their day-to-day lives as such calamities are eased through humanity’s more conscientious care of each other and the ecosphere.

Supreme Master Ching Hai is sending an additional US$20,000 donation for any extra urgent needs, with all her love and prayers for the afflicted.