Humanity Shines in Serbian Flood Relief

By Hungarian Relief Team (Originally in Hungarian)

In mid-May 2014, the heaviest rainfall in 120 years inundated Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, leading to severe flooding and landslides, isolating communities and burying houses. In Serbia, there were 51 lives lost and 32,000 people had to be evacuated. Several major cities in the country were completely flooded, leaving over 300,000 households without power and thousands of infrastructure facilities and roads destroyed. Serbian Prime Minister, His Excellency Aleksandar Vučić described the flooding as “the worst natural catastrophe that has ever hit Serbia.”

Soon after receiving Supreme Master Ching Hai’s US$10,000 relief fund and Her loving instruction to help the affected people, our Association members in Hungary contributed EUR 1,945 (US$2,656) more to the fund and formed a relief team. From May 23 to 27, our team traveled to Serbia and visited several sports stadiums and arenas where the evacuated individuals were staying. At the largest arena in Belgrade that was sheltering 800 people, we made vegan sandwiches and delivered required items including drinks, fruits, vegetables, veggie protein, polenta and snacks. Urgently needed supplies, such as dust masks, latex hygienic gloves, slippers, undergarments, socks, plates, towels, snacks and drinks were also delivered to four more stadiums in the city. Furthermore, baby clothes and supplies were given to several families and the remaining US$3,726 was contributed to the Red Cross.

Witnessing countless volunteers dedicatedly working at the stadiums for days with positive and happy spirits, our relief team members were touched by the saintly quality that Serbians demonstrated in the time of calamity. A Red Cross volunteer commented that the disaster brought out goodness from the people.

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