The Supreme Master Ching Hai
By Indonesian Relief Team (Originally in Indonesian)
On the evening of September 28, 2018, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake, tsunami and soil liquefaction event devastated Palu, Sigi and Donggala cities in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, claiming over 4,000 lives, causing many injuries, destroying infrastructure and homes, and leaving survivors without sufficient shelter, food and water.
First Disaster Relief Team Work (October 5 – 12)
Upon hearing of this sad news, our beloved Supreme Master Ching Hai asked local Association members to check if urgent assistance was needed, while conveying Her deep sorrow and prayers for the victims and offering relief funds where needed. On October 5, a relief team formed by our Indonesian Association members arrived at Makassar city in South Sulawesi. With the funds contributed by the local Association members and the remaining funds from previous relief work totalling US$25,065, we quickly prepared emergency items, including 1,000 shelter packs containing tents and mats, 1,000 family packs containing clothing and hygiene supplies, medicine and vegan biscuits, 320 student school packs with various stationary and 100 baby supply packs. After loading two trucks, we headed to Palu city on the evening of October 6.
As soon as we reached Palu City on October 8, we went directly to a nearby hospital, RS. Budi Agung, and delivered medicine and medical equipment. Despite experiencing two subsequent earthquakes in the morning of October 9, we distributed relief supplies to the affected people in Pakuli village and Sibalaga Selatan village in Kecamatan Gumbasa as well as Bale village in Mamboro district. One of our team members, a doctor, was able to help the patients in the hospital and provide medical check-ups for over 30 patients, mostly senior citizens. The people receiving Master’s boundless Love showed great gratitude and thankfulness to God. The school children were also so happy and comforted by their new school bags.
The Sigi district suffered severe damage with the main road cut off by mud and many homes destroyed. The displaced citizens staying in the temporary shelters on the hill or in the empty fields desperately needed tents, mats and blankets, and so the arrival of our relief team on October 10 was greeted with much joy! We delivered hundreds of tents and mats to the grateful people in Jono Oge Village and Dolo Village. We also distributed hundreds of family packs, including baby packs and school student packs which were happily received by children.
On October 11, we went to Donggala area which was affected by the earthquake and tsunami. Along the Loli coastline, there were numerous damaged buildings, vehicles and even several ships that washed ashore. During the day, we stopped at four shelters in the villages of Loli Tasibuli, Baluli Ulujali, Loli Dondo and Loli Pesua, and handed over 315 tents, 315 mats, 455 family packages, 13 baby packages, and 10 school student packages. Our relief doctor also took time to provide medical check-ups for infants, adults and the elderly people.
Before leaving for home, we handed the remaining relief items to our young local guide named Vano, who had accompanied us for four days. Vano organized to go with his friends to distribute the remaining items to the West Coast area.
Second Disaster Relief Team Work (October 26 – 30)
From October 26 to 30, another relief team consisting of two medical doctors and three relief workers, purchased more supplies with US$6,755 of the remaining funds and distributed aid to the needy in Pakuli village in Sigi district and Patalu village in Donggala district. Inside each package, was a vegan booklet, “Vegan Guide for Beginners” as well. The affected people were extremely happy to receive the packages and conveyed their special thanks to Supreme Master Ching Hai for Her Compassion and Love. The Patalu village is located at the seafront where hundreds of villagers gathered at the site and happily greeted the relief team. Our doctors provided check-ups and treatments to many local citizens.
On the last day, our team gave out the rest of the relief items in several shelters in Palu City and also handed over the remaining medicine to a hospital in Sigi. We were grateful to have the opportunity to help others in need. We pray that the lives of the Palu, Sigi and Donggala people can be restored soon and that the world adopts the planet-saving vegan diet to mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce natural disasters.
Expenditures by The Supreme Master Ching Hai for Earthquake, Tsunami, and Soil Liquefaction Relief Work in Indonesia
| Description | Amount (IDR) | Receipt |
|
Expenses for the first relief work: 1,000 tents and mats, 1,000 family packs (sarongs, blankets, underwear, sanitary napkins, soap, tooth brushes, toothpaste, medication oil, eucalyptus oil and vegan biscuits), 320 student school packs (school bags, writing books, drawing books, pencil boxes, ballpoints, pencils, erasers, coloring pencils, sharpeners, and rulers), 100 baby packs (baby oil, baby powder, sanitary napkins and wiper papers) and other expenses for relief team (food and transportation) |
363,429,679 | A |
|
Expenses for the second relief work: 300 hundred family packs, 200 school student packs, 100 baby packs and several medical kits |
101,333,022 | B |
| Total | IDR 464,762,701 (USD 31,820) |
Relief Efforts – October 5-12, 2018
Relief Efforts – October 26-30, 2018