Caring Supplies Distribution for Kintamani Landslide Victims in Indonesia

By Bali Relief Team, Indonesia (Originally in Indonesian)

It is rare for the tourist island of Bali, Indonesia to experience landslides; however, years of deforestation have made the land more susceptible to them. On the morning of February 10, 2017, unrelenting heavy rains triggered a landslide that hit several villages in Kintamani District, Bangli Regency of Bali claiming 12 lives. Songan Village and Yeh Mampeh Village were among the most affected.

Remembering Supreme Master Ching Hai’s loving instructions to care for those less fortunate, our Bali Association members immediately started to collect information on the needs of the families evacuated to the emergency camps prepared by the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Denpasar Search and Rescue, the Red Cross, the military, the police and volunteers. In just two days, we purchased and packed all the required supplies and loaded them into three vans.

On February 13, we went to Yeh Mampeh Village, located in a steep and foggy area. Thanks to the guidance from several volunteers, we managed to reach the camp and deliver relief supplies for 30 families to the inventory dock, which is a place for accommodating donations. The items included rice, cooking oil, blankets, towels, diapers, drinking water, soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes. The village head welcomed us warmly. We visited some families and chatted with them to bring them cheer and joy. We also played a game with the children and gave them some books, pens and candies. Seeing their happy faces, we felt blessed.

On February 15, we returned to the camp and distributed a new mattress and pillow to each of the 30 families after learning of their needs from the Regional Disaster Management Agency.

We are grateful for the assistance from the Regional Disaster Management Agency and the volunteers who helped in bringing some comfort, physically and emotionally, to the people in need. Our team is very thankful to be able to assist our kind Indonesian brothers and sisters.

Expenditures by The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association for Landslide Relief Work in Indonesia