On June 3, 2007, a strong earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale struck Ling’er County of Pu’e City in Yunnan Province, China, affecting the lives of over 500,000 people. Upon hearing this news, Supreme Master Ching Hai lovingly and immediately dispatched funds and instructed fellow initiates to launch a relief effort. The Hong Kong Center received the instruction on June 28 and quickly joined Chinese fellow initiates. We formed two relief teams, one going to the most severely devastated area of Ling’er County and the other to the more remote Xishuangbanna.

Ling’er County

In Ling’er County, we contacted the local government and Red Cross. The deputy county mayor and the President of the local Red Cross immediately dispatched a jeep to take us on a field survey of the most severely stricken Sanjia Village, Manlian Township. Houses were seriously damaged, but luckily there were few casualties. We drew up a plan that night and, the next day purchased relief materials locally. These included rice, noodles, cooking oil, peanuts, soybean sheets, green bean vermicelli, salt, brown sugar, candy, towels, soap, and toilet paper. Many touching events took place in the process. Shop owners extended enormous support, and the director of the county’s Civil Affairs Bureau, who was in charge of charities, offered great help. He supported each of our field surveys and supply deliveries by explaining the local conditions and then dispatching jeeps to take us to the affected areas.

Within a very short time, we delivered the emergency provisions to Manlian Township Office, where they were distributed in an orderly manner to the patiently waiting villagers. An elderly villager held the hands of a fellow initiate and said, “While eating with our mouths, we will be thinking of you with our hearts.”

Xishuangbanna

Upon reaching Menghai County in Xishuangbanna, fellow initiates approached the local relief authorities to understand the situation. Very soon, the relevant Department Head visited and informed us that Daluo, Xiding and Bulangshan were affected, but Daluo more seriously. He promised to accompany us on a field survey the next day.

When morning came, four fellow initiates travelled to Daluo with local officials, while two other groups journeyed to Xiding and Menghun in rented cars. Led by official vehicles, we visited residential homes, schools, and hospitals in Menghun and Mengzhe, and noticed that the conditions were better than in Ling’er. We learned that Bulangshan was the poorest district in Xishuangbanna. Although it did not suffer serious damage from the earthquake, it was situated in a known drug trafficking region. Thus, we hoped to make use of the relief operation to specially convey Master’s love and care to the local inhabitants.

On July 6, with help from the county government, fellow initiates delivered truckloads of rice, noodles, oil, salt, and other daily necessities to Bulangshan. When we learned that the local primary school’s roof was incomplete due to a funding shortage, we raised a sufficient amount and presented it to the deputy county mayor to forward to the village chief.

Epilogue

China’s rapid response was highly evident to all the fellow initiates taking part in this relief endeavour. Within hours of the earthquake, troops stationed in the area had arrived to render relief and distribute basic living necessities to the victims. At every village office that we visited, officials from the civil affairs and other departments were stationed there to note the victims’ needs and convey their requests. From morning to dusk, we could see government officials working hard to assist the victims. They were friendly and open, and always answered our questions. Furthermore, during our relief operation, the local authorities dispatched army vehicles to take us on surveys in places where other vehicles could not enter. We were really touched and impressed by their dedication.

Master’s blessing has made it possible for us to smoothly accomplish this relief mission. We pray that God will bless all people in the affected areas, so that they can soon rebuild their beautiful homesteads.

Expenditures by The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association
of Relief Rendered to Disaster Victims in Yunnan Province, China

Chongqing area

After the severe flood disaster that struck Yunyang area east of Chongqing and Longchang County of Sichuan Province, for which our Association members rendered relief in early July (for details, please refer to reports in News #187), a torrential rain again poured down in Chongqing area on July 17.This ignited a severe flood unprecedented in 115 years, that brought extensive devastation to 33 towns and regions. Fellow initiates in China watched the situation at home with great concern, and as soon as the road conditions had improved, association members immediately conducted a field investigation at the most affected areas.

Based on the results of the investigation, we went to Hebian Town in Bishan first. The victims there were badly in need of quilts and clothing. We purchased 110 quilts with covers, 200 T-shirts and 200 pairs of pants, and then delivered them to the affected area.

Next, we purchased another 35 quilts and covers, 80 T-shirts, 40 pairs of pants, 120 kg of sugar, and 60 boxes of mosquito incense and delivered them to the First Community and Second Community in Chen JiaQiao. The extremely touched victims said, “You are really too kind! You even think of the sugar and mosquito incense!” They said they would call the television stations to report the compassionate actions. We told them that this effort was from the converged love of many people, not from money contributed by any one person, and if they should thank anyone, it should be our loving and compassionate God.

Anhui Province

This year, Anhui Province was struck by a great flood rarely seen in several decades. As a continuous effort to our relief effort at Fengtai County (for details please refer to report in News #187), At the end of July fellow initiates began another effort by contributing money and relief materials. Quickly we delivered 2,500 kg of rice, 1,200 kg of soybean oil, 3,200 kg of purified water, sautéed dry bean curds, hot pickled mustard tuber, clothing, and other items to one of the most affected areas in Datong region of Huaihan. We endured a hot climate of 38˚C and visited four inundated areas without stopping. Seeing the relief material that we brought, the victims were very touched. Some of them repeated, “You are really very kind people.”

It was very late in the evening when we finally finished with the distribution effort. Although we were quite exhausted working under such high temperatures, all fellow initiates understood that it was an opportunity bestowed by God to develop our compassion and put love into action.

Henan Province

Since the flood period began, areas near the Huai River such as Zuma Dian and Xunyang were severely devastated by torrential rainfall and sudden rainstorms. Toward the end of July, we went to the most affected areas of Zuma Dian City filled with Master’s loving concern and well-wishes from fellow initiates. . Upon knowing the purpose of our visit, the township government leader was deeply touched and accompanied us to visit and render aid to the most stricken households one by one under the scorching sun. Many disaster victims were moved to tears. According to the township leader, except for government relief, no other group had ever come to visit and help the victims in this area. He mentioned, “You are the first non-government organization that came voluntarily with love.”

We discovered that in addition to having collapsed houses, many victims were seriously ill. Government relief focused mainly on distributing relief material. However, the victims needed money to seek medical treatment, rebuild their homesteads, and send their children to school. Therefore, we decided to give them more relief funds. In total, we distributed RMB 12,900 in cash, and 270 kg of vegetable oil to 55 of the most devastated households in 17 villages. We hoped to convey Master’s love and concern to the neediest people.

Early the next morning, we went to Huaibin County in Xunang City. The situation was similar to other affected areas. We distributed relief funds totalling RMB 12,350 to 60 affected households. Next, we visited an elderly home and contributed another RMB 5,000. Upon leaving, many elderly people came out to bid us farewell, and were reluctant to part with us.

Frequent floods in recent years have reduced the local people to greater poverty. During this past relief operation, we found that the government has given their best effort to help and serve the victims in many ways. We know that God will bless the people and government there by helping them to restore their communities so that they can lead happy and fulfilled lives once again!

<<	Contents	>>
Refer this page to friends