 Media
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Central Au Lac Flood Relief
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Media
Reports |
In November 1999,
major flooding devastated central Au Lac. Upon learning this tragic news and
following Master's compassionate example, disciples from the United States,
Australia, & Canada contributed US$104,000. Several disciples then immediately
traveled to Au Lac to personally distribute the contributions to the flood victims.
Upon their return to the United States, many Aulacese newspapers reported our
flood relief efforts because our practitioners were the first group to return
to Au Lac to bring aid to the flood victims.
Suc Song, U.S.A.
No. 537 Dec. 3, 1999 (Originally in Aulacese) |
Excerpt from Suc Song, U.S.A.
No. 537 Dec. 3, 1999
(Originally in Aulacese)
Title: Report on Flood Relief in Central Au Lac: The Supreme Master Ching Hai
International Association Has Responded in a Quick and Timely Manner to the
Urgent Demands in Central Locations Stricken by the Disaster.
In Thua Thien, where heavy
damage to roads caused traffic jams, volunteers had to use a small boat to reach
villages from the lower to the upper Huong River. Here, many villages and hamlets
were washed away. The volunteers aided and supported large numbers of victims,
which sometimes totaled more than 40 families in one location.
The situation
in Quang Tri was not much better; flooded houses overflowed with dead bodies
and unattended children, and collapsed schools and farm lands were submerged
deeply in the vast flood waters. Especially here, victims were faced with the
most serious devastation, which was far beyond recovery. Volunteers from The
Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association made the decision that besides
the aid and support given to each family, they also would give the village the
amount of 60,000,000 Aulacese Dong to help local farmers buy seeds for the coming
season.
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In Quang Nam,
volunteers also visited those villages near the city that had been strongly
affected by the flooding. At the beginning of 1999, volunteer members had also
come to this area to support hurricane victims.
Pitiful scenes
were revealed everywhere: empty farm ground, tottering roofs, denuded huts,
gaunt faces, lifeless and mournful eyes, new graves lined up, and a mournful
atmosphere with cries and tears that fell on the dead victims.
The volunteers
worked nonstop, visiting and comforting each victim, and distributing financial
aid directly to each family. Calculations of the losses of each family were
made at once; families with minor damage received 300,000 VN Dong, while the
ones who had suffered more serious damage received aid in the amount of 2,000,000
VN Dong. Those families that had lost their homes, had many children, or had
lost family members, received the amount of 5,000,000 VN Dong. Some schools
were also aided financially in order to rebuild classrooms for children. (Note:
US$1.00 = VN14,000 Dong) 
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The
Aulacese People, Friday, November 26th, 1999, the 21st year of publication
- No. 5102 (Originally in Aulacese) |
Photo: A flood victim in central Au Lac and his child receive monetary assistance from a U.S.A. representative of The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association, who came to central Au Lac on 11-19-1999 as a relief worker. |
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Au Lac Flood Relief Recent
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