Loving Support Earns Heartfelt Thanks

On October 5, 2008, a powerful earthquake of magnitude 6.6 shook southern Kyrgyzstan near the border of Tajikistan. Freezing temperatures at several remote mountain villages added to the urgency of the situation.

Within hours of the quake, Supreme Master Ching Hai made a relief contribution of US$20,000. The Korean Relief Team, including two nurses and a firefighter, traveled over 4,600 kilometers to Kyrgyzstan's southern Osh province. They provided medicine to the Osh State Hospital and funded dialysis for two critically injured patients. Then they braved a journey to the 2,000-meter-high Nura Village, where 90% of the houses had been destroyed. Here, about 800 villagers living in tents requested and received cooking utensils, warm clothes, winter boots, toiletries, biscuits and school supplies. The relief team also funded the purchase of a heater and a cargo container to provide warm shelter for the people in the cold winter. The villagers were very touched by our relief team members who came such a long way to help them. The entire relief effort was documented by the government-run ELTR TV.

In nearby Tajikistan, after hearing an assessment by the Red Crescent Society, the relief team purchased needed winter clothing such as coats, blankets, socks, shoes and trousers as well as flour and delivered them to Karakul, over 1,280 kilometers from the capital. Thanks to God’s mercy, the village with 200 households suffered no casualties or damage. However, the people were in need of help as the harsh winter drew near.

On the way back to Dushanbe, the relief team traveled through Khorugh, which had been affected by the earthquake. They contributed US$1,500 to School No. 12, an orphanage with 53 children, and the principle of the school expressed her heartfelt thanks to Master. Then on November 28, Supreme Master Ching Hai gave the orphanage an additional US$5,300 to purchase winter clothes, books and other necessities for the children.

The residents of both Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan readily accepted Master's sample booklets and SOS and Alternative Living flyers, hoping to read more about their benefactor and Her noble work. “Please convey a huge thank-you to Supreme Master Ching Hai on our behalf,” they said.

Expenditures by Supreme Master Ching Hai
and Her international Association
for the Earthquake Relief in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

Description	Amount(USD)	Receipt
Relief items (cooking utensils, school supplies, winter clothing, food, heater, cargo container, etc.)	9,827	A
Financial contribution (State of Osh Hospital, Nura Village in Kyrgyzstan, School no.12 in Tajikistan)	13,016	B
Transportation	16,485	C
Miscellaneous expenses (translation, printing, communication, etc.)	5,950	D
Total	US$ 45,278

* Throughout the relief operation, fellow initiates paid for their own transportation, food and accommodation expenses.

To view the Humanitarian Relief Activities by the Supreme Master Ching Hai and Her International Association, please visit: http://www.GodsDirectContact.org.tw/humanitarian
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