Humanitarian Aid for Refugees in Northern France

By Paris, France Relief Team (Originally in French)

Following Supreme Master Ching Hai’s loving instruction to provide assistance for the refugees, our Association members in Paris visited refugee camps in northern France. For this relief effort, we used EUR 24,657.93, which was contributed by our Formosan Centers, with reimbursement available from Master’s fund.

On November 21, 2015 our relief team visited three refugee camps. We distributed 50 military-style sleeping bags designed for very cold temperatures in a camp in the town of Saint-Omer. The recipients were very happy to receive these sleeping bags despite the rain that fell during distribution. We have also provided financial assistance so that they can power the generator in the camp.

We then distributed 100 sleeping bags for refugees in the Grande-Synthe camp and 50 sleeping bags in the camp in the city of Steenvoorde. In both places, we shared vegan cakes and hot drinks with the refugees. They were thankful for the sleeping bags and treats.

On December 4, our relief team revisited the camp in Steenvoorde, where about 70 refugees were waiting for us. After being warmly greeted by the site manager, we gave her Master’s book From Crisis to Peace – The Organic Vegan Way is the Answer and the French version of Master’s The Key of Immediate Enlightenment Sample Booklet. We then distributed gloves, shoes, sleeping bags, tents and also homemade vegan cakes to the refugees. They were all delighted to receive these gifts and were very grateful to Master. We also left some gloves, shoes, sleeping bags and tents with the site manager because she informed us that other refugees will come later.

Next, our relief team went to the town of Grande-Synthe where we were first introduced to the NGO SALAM, which is headquartered in Calais, France. Earlier, we had received information from them about the Grande-Synthe camp. We gave shoes, sleeping bags, tents and vegan cakes to SALAM, which will distribute them to refugees, because it has planned to find another place more comfortable for them.

With the help of one of the officials of SALAM, we went inside the camp of Grande-Synthe where there were 2,000 refugees who had left Calais, France. Most of them are families with young children. We distributed sleeping bags and tents to them. They were filled with joy and some of them requested to know the source of the gifts. When we showed them the photo of Master, they thanked Master with respect.

Our deep gratitude to Master for Her loving generosity to the refugees and for Her blessing so that the relief work went smoothly. Also, we thank our Formosa Association members for their financial contribution for the refugees.