Assisting Yunnan Province Earthquake Victims in China

By China Relief Team (Originally in Chinese)

On the afternoon of August 3, 2014, a 6.5-magnititude earthquake shook Ludian County, Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province. It was the most severe quake in Yunnan in 14 years, affecting 1.09 million people, taking 617 lives and injuring over 3,000 individuals. Almost 230,000 people were displaced and more than 300 roads were damaged.

Deeply concerned about the disaster situation, Supreme Master Ching Hai contributed a US$20,000 fund and requested our Association members to go to the affected area to provide relief aid. On August 7, after learning that the road to the epicenter in Longtoushan Township had opened up, our Yunnan Association members formed a relief team and immediately purchased 1,200 military quilts based on the information provided by the Kunmig Office of Ludian County Civil Affairs Bureau. We also purchased 40 boxes of biscuits and mineral water from a vegan restaurant and drove to Ludian County the following day.

The road was packed with vehicles carrying relief materials and traffic was very slow. A relief officer requested that we distribute the supplies to the small, mountainous Cuiping Village, which is more remote and suffered greater loss. Because the newly built roads were so steep that it was difficult for ordinary vehicles to pass, we asked a hospital traveling to the disaster area in an outback vehicle to please transport the food we purchased. We then continued our journey and hauled the quilts using a large truck we rented. Finally, thanks to the hospital, we were able to deliver everything to Cuiping Village, where many of the residents were taking refuge in makeshift tents they had set up themselves. With tears of gratitude, the villagers helped us unload all the supplies.

We also learned that the Niulan River in Yunnan was blocked by a landslide from the earthquake, causing a large barrier lake to form in Zhichang Township, Huizhe County, Qujin City. Ninety-two houses were inundated, approximately 800 people had been relocated and thousands more were in the process of relocation. Therefore, on the morning of August 10, responding to the request of the Civil Affairs Bureau, we purchased 10 tons of rice and delivered them to Zhichang Township’s earthquake relief center. Thanks to US$14,797 contributed by our Association members, on August 13 we purchased another 12 tons of rice in Kunming and delivered them to the Ludian earthquake relief headquarters.

We are very grateful to Master for Her love and guidance so that we were able to complete this disaster relief work successfully.

Expenditures by Supreme Master Ching Hai and Her International Association
for the Earthquake Relief Work in Ludian County and Huizhe County, Yunnan Province

The relief team members paid US$331 for their own travel expenses including transportation, food and lodging.