Offering Solace after Typhoon Soulik in Formosa

By Formosa Relief Team (Originally in Chinese)

On July 13, 2013, with intense rain and wind, Typhoon Soulik rampaged across Formosa. Four people lost their lives, 123 were injured and more than 8,500 people were evacuated from their homes. Many highways were damaged due to landslides or from collapsed sections of road. There was also heavy loss in the agriculture sector. Upon learning of the disaster, Supreme Master Ching Hai immediately instructed our Association members in Formosa to carry out relief work and to convey Her deepest condolences, with funds available for reimbursement of relief work expenditures. Our Association members contributed TWD 825,803 (US$28,448) for the relief effort.

During the storm, Zhulin Village and Huayuan Village in Wufeng Town, Hsinchu County, could not be accessed and the villagers experienced great difficulty. Our Association members in Hsinchu prepared vegan food packages which included rice, noodles, vegetable oil, toasted bread, cookies and candy for the affected people, along with Master’s publications. We also provided vegan dog food so that the dogs in the disaster area could experience God’s loving care as well. To households that suffered the greatest loss, we offered TWD 3,000 to 6,000; in total TWD 752,086 (US$25,909).

In Keelung, although it was sunny during the day, the heavy rain at night flooded many of the roads, and the roofs of some residential houses were blown away. In addition to the TWD 5,000 (US$172) offered to the affected families, our Association members from Keelung also contributed two boxes of organic five-grain powder, The Supreme Master Ching Hai News Magazines and Master’s publications.

In Taipei, 10 people were hit by objects blown by the strong wind; among them was Sergeant Chen Jinrong from Tamsui, who lost his life due to a flying brick in the early morning on his way back from work. To his surviving family members, our local Association members contributed TWD 10,000 (US$344). Master’s The Key of Immediate Enlightenment Sample Booklet and other publications were also given while conveying God’s love. The other nine people injured were not in serious condition. We visited them one by one and offered financial aid. In total, to the 10 affected households in Taipei city and New Taipei city, we contributed TWD 30,000 (US$1,033).

There were five households in Puli Town, Nantou County seriously damaged due to a mudslide. Our nearby Association members visited them and gave each household TWD 6,000 and food including three bags of rice, two big bottles of oil and six large bags of noodles. A total of TWD 35,717 (US$1,230) was spent for the Puli Town relief.

Our Association members in Kaohsiung drove to the mountainous district that suffered great loss during Typhoon Morakot in 2009. We found that the only road by the river in Jianshan Village in Tauyuan District was destroyed from the heavy rain. Transportation was obstructed. Luckily the villagers, their houses and possessions were safe. Our Kaohsiung Association members contributed TWD 3,000 (US$103) to the local officials to assist in their cleaning and repair work.

Thanks to God’s grace, we were able to reach those in need following Typhoon Soulik. We pray people will quickly adopt the healthy vegan diet in order to ease the impact of extreme weather caused by global warming.

Expenditures by The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association
for Typhoon Soulik Relief Work in Formosa