Love in Action
Thailand

Timely Help for Thailand’s Flood Victims
Mr. Pronchai Puriwat Mayor of Subdistrict Municipality Sri Ching Mai thanks Master for Her help.

By Bangkok News Group (Original in Thai)

Since August 10, 2008, heavy rains have destroyed vast areas in Thailand’s North and North East, causing severe flooding due to the overflowing Mekong River. Out of concern for the flood victims, Supreme Master Ching Hai sent US$10,000 for the relief effort.

On August 12, the first Bangkok relief team went to Doi Mae Salong Mount in Chiang Rai, a northern province where farmlands were submerged and roads were blocked by the mountain mudslides. The Mae Salongnai Tambon administrative organization in Chiang Rai’s Mae Fa Luang district informed the relief team that there was one village with 1,500 households located on the top of the mountain that was badly affected and difficult to reach due to mudslides. Thus, the relief team immediately bought and personally distributed relief supplies, that included the SOS flyers, rain clothes, boots, food and soybean milk for children.
Association member presents Master's relief fund of 10,000 Baht to Mr. Worawit Inthaphan, Deputy Chief of Mae Salongnai Tambon administration organization.

A second relief team was dispatched on August 17 to the province of Nong Khai, targeting Tha Bo and Sri Ching Mai that suffered the worst flood in over 40 years. Tha Bo had vast areas underwater and in some cases only the roof tops of houses could be seen from the water. Many of the local people set up makeshift tents along the roadsides with only the few possessions they managed to carry with them. With the help of boats from the Thai Border Control Police and coordination among leaders of the various communities, all the aid was delivered quickly and efficiently to about 1,000 households in Tha Bo.

In Sri Ching Mai, although the flood had subsided a little by the time the relief team arrived, the structural damage to the area was severe. There were flattened fences, houses cracking, partially destroyed plants and roads, and house floors covered with mud and water. The community leaders and Thai Army personnel assisted the relief team to deliver drinking water, soy milk, rice and instant noodles as well as SOS flyers to five communities in the area. 

Appreciation flowed to Supreme Master Ching Hai from both communities for the assistance, as for some it was the first aid that they had received, and for others it was aid greatly needed. May God bless the Thai victims with a speedy recovery from this devastating flood and help them turn to a healthier and nobler way of living.

 

Expenditures by Supreme Master Ching Hai for the
Flood Relief Work in Thailand

Description

Amount (Thai Baht)

Receipt

Food (rice, soy sauce, vegetable oil, instant noodles, bread, soy milk, drinking water)

295,444

A1

Transportation (car rental, gasoline)

25,850

A3

Miscellaneous (rain cloth, boots, banner, net for truck, plastic bags)

4,570

A2, A4

Funds for local government

10,000

A5

Total

Baht 335,864

 (US$ 10,020)

 

* Fellow initiates paid for their own transportation and food expenses throughout the relief operation.

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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