Providing Relief to Victims of Torrential Rain in Japan

By Japanese and Formosan Relief Teams (Originally in Japanese)

July, during the summer of 2018, Japan was devastated by the worst floods in more than three decades. This tragic event is officially referred to as “Heavy rain of July, Heisei 30.” Starting from June 28, there was a downpour of torrential rain across 15 prefectures of Western Japan for ten days continuously. The resulting volume of water caused floods, mudslides and landslides creating devastating damage in Hiroshima, Okayama and Ehime. As of July 20, 225 lives were lost, 13 people were missing, 4,484 people were in evacuation centers and over 24,200 homes had no access to clean water. In order to rescue the anxious citizens, the Japanese government used all the resources available, deploying forces from the police department, fire department, military and the Coast Guard. International communities also responded quickly offering humanitarian aid and financial contributions.

Supreme Master Ching Hai sent Her love and prayers for the victims, providing US$10,000 (JYP 1,096,900) in funds and also dispatching a combined team of our Association members from Tokyo, Osaka and Taiwan (Formosa) to the most affected areas to help the needy.

On July 14, the relief team first gathered at Osaka Center to arrange necessary supplies. As the majority of the items we ordered online, the local delivery staff kindly accompanied us to rent trucks and helped load the supplies while perspiring heavily from the hard work, saying, “I am glad that I can help you because I cannot go there.”

The next day, we drove 7 hours to Ozu city, Ehime prefecture and visited a shelter and two other destinations. In the shelter at Ozu city Hira community learning center, the staff were overjoyed with our cleaning tools for volunteers. One evacuee said, “I never understood other people’s tragedy until the misfortune falls on me.” We also delivered a large amount of supplies such as cleaning tools, medicine, detergents etc., to Ozu city General gymnasium. Our vegan cookies and big-sized rain boots made everyone’s eyes sparkle.

On our way to Okayama prefecture, we called Mihara city volunteer center and learned that they especially needed drinking water. So in addition to tea, vegetable juice, rubber gloves and buckets, we also delivered drinking water which they accepted gratefully.

After spending the night at the home of an Association member, who miraculously still had a town water supply. In the morning we went shopping and brought a truckload of goods to Mabi General Park in Kurashiki City, where citizens, one after another, came to pick up the supplies they needed. Afterwards, we went to the Cultural Exchange Center in Takahashi city and delivered body soap, shampoo, dish and laundry detergents, and spiritual item of Supreme Master Ching Hai to comfort the heart of the victims. Next, we headed to Soja city hall and delivered another truckload of relief supplies prepared according to the real time updating of urgent-items-needed on Soja city’s official website.

On July 17, our Formosan team members shopped for more supplies and distributed them with Master’s booklets in Yakage Cho, Okayama. The deputy town mayor and staff were extremely surprised and very impressed that our members travelled so far to help our disaster affected extended Japanese family. In the next few days, we also ordered relief supplies for Uwajima city, Ehime prefecture, water for Niimi city and barley tea for Soja city, Okayama prefecture.

On July 21, Japan’s Prime Minister Mr. Shinzo Abe stated that the government will declare the torrential rain that hit western Japan as an extremely severe disaster, so that affected municipalities will receive increased assistance. We thank the government for acting so quickly to care for the affected citizens as well as the volunteers from all over the country who have sacrificed to ensure a rapid recovery for victims. We pray the people will quickly recover and return to their normal daily lives. We are also extremely grateful for Master’s blessing that enabled us to deliver God’s love and light to the flood affected areas.

Expenditures by Supreme Master Ching Hai and Her International Association for Flood Relief Work in Western Japan

In addition, our Formosa relief team and Association members personally contributed approximately US$2,105 to cover their own traveling expenses. 

Note: On July 27 our Gunma Association members sent 6,240 sand bags to Hiroshima, then an additional 5,140 to Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture on August 4.