Pakistan

From July to mid-September 2011, many places in Pakistan were stricken by floods triggered by continuous heavy rainfall. With heartfelt concern for the victims, Supreme Master Ching Hai allocated relief funds totaling US$40,000, and instructed our Association members to render material support and extend God’s loving concern to the flood-affected and those in war-torn areas. Two Formosan relief teams were quickly dispatched to render relief and convey Master’s love to local residents.

In July, many households in the mountainous Muzaffarabad region, 50 km northeast of Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, were stricken by floods caused by torrential monsoon rains. One of our relief teams reached Islamabad on August 5 and purchased 386 blankets. As Muzaffarabad is in a restricted area, local Association members helped with distribution of the blankets. Upon receiving the heart-felt gifts, which were greatly needed due to the cold mountain weather, the recipients expressed sincere joy and gratitude.

On August 17, the other Formosan team visited the Kurram IDP Camp situated in a war zone where there were heavy casualties, and distributed 2,650 kg of rice and other food items to the needy people.

Four days earlier, torrential rain had again stricken many areas of Pakistan, triggering floods that affected a million people in the southern region, most of whom were short of food. On August 19, our relief team reached Karachi, the capital of Sindh Province, and distributed 5,375 kg of rice to more than 500 households in the heavily devastated district of Badin.

In early October, our team again returned to Pakistan and travelled to flood-affected areas in the remote southwest region, conveying Master’s loving care and aid to the victims. On October 4, the team members reached Vehari District in Punjab Province, where over 10 days of heavy rainfall had destroyed homes and farms on which the local people relied for their livelihood. The team promptly purchased and distributed wheat flour to 2,100 households. Overcome by tears of joyful relief, the anxious, hungry people expressed gratitude for Heaven’s blessing and thanked Supreme Master Ching Hai for Her love and assistance.

On October 6 and 7, our team returned to Badin District in Sindh Province, where approximately 900,000 people were still homeless and living in great difficulty. According to the victims, the heavy rains had persisted from July to September, destroying homes and leaving farmland untillable. Choked with tears, the people said that up to that time our Association was the only group to have entered the area to render aid. With teary eyes, hands folded and bowing deeply, the recipients expressed their appreciation to the team members for coming so early to help them. The team had purchased and distributed over 10,000 kg of wheat flour to more than a thousand households. Observing the recipients’ contented smiles and sincere gratitude for God’s grace, the team members felt deeply moved.

Many of the people were puzzled about the increased frequency and severity of natural disasters such as those that had affected their area, so our team also shared information on how to counteract global warming through the compassionate vegan diet. Hopefully, through God’s continued grace, the flood waters in the affected regions receded quickly, so that the inhabitants could prepare for the winter with peace of mind.

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

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