By USA News Group (Originally in English)
Since Syria’s civil war began in March 2011, humanitarian needs have reached critical levels, with reports of over 136,000 fatalities. More than five million children urgently require relief, with a million who have fled the country terrified and desperate for refuge. Both within and outside their homeland, the children are facing trauma, suffering and death as the vast majority lack basic humanitarian aid.
Feeling the pain and hearing the prayers of Syria’s children, our beloved Supreme Master Ching Hai contributed an initial US$200,000 to the United States-based Save the Children, an organization working to help children in need around the world. The amount, sent in December of 2012, was designated for the group’s Syrian Children in Crisis Fund. In September 2013, as the devastating emergency continued, Master contributed an additional US$20,000 to further their noble efforts.
We are grateful for organizations such as Save the Children that are bringing direct assistance to Syria’s young people. Their teams are on the ground helping to keep children safe, providing basic necessities such as food and blankets, and offering programs to help them cope with the tragedy and pain of war.
Following Master’s first contribution, Renee Monroe, a senior director for Save the Children, visited our Association members to express her sincere thanks and appreciation to Supreme Master Ching Hai for Her contribution. In addition to the tremendous work that Save the Children is doing around the world, Ms. Monroe also expressed that she had decided to become vegan so as to avoid inflicting any more harm or suffering.
We, too, join in deep gratefulness to Supreme Master Ching Hai for Her guidance and caring example. Our heartfelt prayers for peace and understanding to our brethren in Syria, as well as to the world.
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