Love in Action

 

Thailand

 

With heavy rain that began in southern Thailand in late March 2011, floods and mudslides had affected two million people by April, claiming more than 120 lives. Over 100 districts across ten provinces were declared disaster zones as 146,000 hectares of farmland were damaged, while communications and power supplies were disrupted.

Upon hearing the tragic news, Supreme Master Ching Hai contributed US$12,000 for urgent necessities, and Bangkok Center Association members immediately organized a relief effort. On April 4, they braved dismal conditions in traveling to Phunphin District of southern Surat Thani Province. There, they distributed drinking water, food and clothing, which were received with deep gratitude for Master’s love and concern. A few days later, the team returned to the area with more emergency items, which they handed out to 500 people who had been evacuated from flooded homes.

As soon as roads were sufficiently repaired, the relief team journeyed to two severely devastated districts in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. On April 22, with help from the Councilor of Theppharat, Mr. Taweechok Somkao, they provided ready-to-eat vegan foods and supplied construction materials and kitchenware to the people staying temporarily at local schools and police stations in three villages in Sichon district. The following day, they proceeded to four villages in Nopphitam district and with assistance from the Councilor of Krung Ching, Mr. Pon Chan Jum, they delivered emergency food packages to the local people, many of whom had walked as much as 10 km to receive the aid.

A few months later, heavy rains hit again, this time devastating regions in the north and northeast. Along with hundreds who perished, over 25,000 people were treated for flood-related illnesses, while 28 provinces were declared disaster areas, and tens of thousands of hectares of agricultural land were damaged.

Upon hearing of these latest flood disasters, Supreme Master Ching Hai on August 8 offered US$15,000 for urgent necessities. Although hampered by water levels that reached as high as four meters in places, on August 25, our Association members from the Bangkok Center traveled to Pak Khwae and Ban Kluai subdisdricts in Sukhothai Province, where members of about 1,000 households happily received the vegan food supplies and drinking water they handed out. The following day, they went to Bang Rakam District in neighboring Phitsanulok Province, going from home to home on a boat provided by the District president to distribute packages of emergency supplies to families isolated by the floods.

As overflowing rivers and mudslides triggered by the deluge continued to take their toll, the relief team organized another three-day effort in mid-September. They brought food and sanitation supplies to affected families in Nam Pat District in Uttaradit Province; and to Bang Phai Subdistrict, Phichit Province; as well as several different areas in Sing Buri and Chainat provinces. Young children were delighted at the gifts of candy, while adults eagerly read the SOS flyers that informed them of ways to avoid such unfortunate disasters in the future.

On October 19, our Bangkok representatives arrived on Loi Island, located in the then swiftly flowing Chao Phraya River in Ayutthaya Province, to offer food and drinking water to the residents of Pradanam Village as well as families temporarily sheltered at two local temples. A week later, a military truck transported our relief team through the floods to distribute nourishing plant-based food supplies to affected households in Pathum Thani Province near Bangkok.

All of the people were thankful for Master’s loving aid, and many of them promised to keep a plant-based diet once they learned the root cause of such calamities. We pray for an end to such distressing conditions through our more benevolent care of the environment.

Letter of Appreciation from local government official

*Throughout the relief operation, the team members paid for their own transportation, accommodations and food.

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