Report From Southern Thailand

By Supreme Master Ching Hai Relief Team in S. Thailand

Mr. Boonlert Kangmanee, marshal of Hua Sai district, happily distributes the clothes brought by the relief team to the children.

　 Upon hearing of the flood disaster in southern Thailand, Supreme Master Ching Hai instructing emergency relief workers to determine the number of affected households and their immediate needs. The flood-affected areas were situated in remote locations where large quantities of commodities were unavailable on short notice. Thus, all the purchases were made in Bangkok. Relief workers acted quickly,completing preparations and making the necessary contacts and purchases within twelve hours of notice.

    On December 20th, they drove all night to get to the disasterareas, but prevailing conditions meant it took as many as twenty hours for the goods to reach the Chian Yai Activity Center. The four affected areas were: Chian Yai, Hua Sai, Cha Loem Kiet and Cha Uad. The relief team divided into two groups to simultaneously handle the work. Within two days more than five thousand households received provisions and aid. Each area had its own specific needs (please refer to Table 1). Supreme Master Ching Hai hadspecifically prepared for each child be given a new outfit; as aresult, three thousand children received new clothes.
 

　（CHIAN YAI）：In Chian Yai, where five villages were affected by the flood,provisions were distributed at seven selected sites. A total of 2,024 households received relief supplies and more than 1,500 children new clothing. The provisions had been packed the night before, which facilitated quick distribution the following day. One of the seven sites could be accessed only by boat; at the other six locations, it took only 30 to 40 minutes for the supplies to be distributed, which was an hour shorter than officially estimated.We briefly introduced ourselves before we set to work. As soon as all the provisions had been distributed we drove away even before anyone could express their appreciation. The way we handled the work was completely new to them.
 

（HUA SAI）：Beneficiaries in Hua Sai totaled 449 households. Here, the floods had caused severe damage and the villagers were already poor.Apparently Hua Sai finds itself under water for two months each year. When the relief team arrived, the flood water still had notabated so the relief team's car could hardly be relied on. Local contacts arranged for a military truck and a jeep to take the goods and relief workers to the destination.

   For more than two hours, the vehicles struggled through water before arriving at the remote disaster area. The entire area was submerged under water except for a small temple, so it was here that the distribution work was carried out. When the relief team arrived, all the villagers were already sitting on the floor quietly. Smiles emerged on their faces when they saw the large quantity of supplies unloaded.

   The children moved fast to quietly lined up in four separate queuesaccording to their clothes sizes (S, M, L and XL). They were overjoyed when new clothes and candies were put into their hands. Ironically, the children here were even reluctant to eat their candies right away, seeing this scene, the relief team give out all the remaining candies to the children until each child could carry no more.

    The villagers in this area were efficient and diligent. As soon as the supplies had been distributed, the environment was cleaned up.The children also gave assistance.

   The local contact at Hua Sai presented a small tree to the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association as a token of appreciation. The relief team accepted the thoughtful gift and returned to the ChianYai Activity Center.
 

　（CHA LOEM KIET）：The affected area in Cha Loem Kiet included more than 2,600 households, and supplies were distributed at six locations. Because of our previous day's experience, we asked our local contact to arrange a tight schedule for our trip. Local officials sent six large trucks to carry the bulky supplies and workers to help distribute it. The relief work proceeded quickly and smoothly. The villagers here were friendly and hospitable. One of them picked some mangoes from his orchard and offered them to the relief workers. When everything had been distributed, the local contact even invited us to dinner. Although we had to decline his kind offer, we were very touched by his warm hospitality.


　（CHA UAD）：For the three hundred households in Cha Uad, the supplies were transported on land while the relief team took a ferry. When they arrived the villagers had already lined up to receive the necessities. The children happily queued up according to size to receive clothes, cookies and candies. The Thai children are well-behaved and well-mannered. Almost every one of the children closed their palms in front of them to show their gratitude when they had received the gifts.

   Much credit goes to local Thai officials for making this flood relief activity possible. They offered immense help, providing trucks and dispatching guides for us, and assistance in the distribution. Volunteer and paid workers sacrificed entire nightssorting and packaging provisions, which ensured the relief work to accomplish smoothly and efficiently.

Table 1: Details of the relief provisions to each households

Note: Each of the children in the four disaster areas received one set of clothing, totaling 3,000. Also, one box of medicine was given to the local government in each of the four areas, bringing the total to four boxes.

South Thailand Flood Relief Work Breakdown List