Assisting Families Affected by Locusts in Afghanistan

By Afghanistan Relief Team (Originally in Dari)

In early June 2016, a locust infestation attacked the districts of Dawlatyar and Chakhcharan in Ghor Province, Afghanistan. A total of 4,200 families and farmers were affected. Many people were said to face food shortages, and children in particular were at risk of malnutrition. Following Supreme Master Ching Hai’s instruction to help those in the most desperate situations, our Afghanistan Association members distributed relief items with a US$16,000 fund provided by Master.

On July 20, our Afghanistan Association members visited the affected villages in the remote mountainous area in Ghor Province and identified 52 families who needed immediate assistance. We then purchased 260 50-kilogram bags of the best quality wheat flour and 260 25-kilogram bags of the best quality rice from a wholesaler at reasonable prices, and transported them to the nearest possible area to the villages. As the location was inaccessible to vehicles, we also covered the labor costs for the families so that they could hire someone to carry their five bags of wheat flour and five bags of rice to their homes. The food will be able to sustain these families for six months.

The community elders thanked Supreme Master Ching Hai and wished Her a long life and the best of health.

Expenditures by The Supreme Master Ching Hai for Locust Infestation Relief Work in Afghanistan