By Brazil Relief Team (Originally in Portuguese)
Torrential rainfall during the last week of June 2014, led to rising water levels in the Uruguay River, causing severe flooding in southern Brazil, including the state of Rio Grande Do Sul. According to Civil Defense Bureau, 93 cities were impacted in the state, with a total of 19,660 residents displaced. In the most severely affected city of Itaqui, 9,780 people were either homeless or displaced. When Supreme Master Ching Hai learned of the disaster situation, She immediately instructed our Association members to visit the afflicted area and provide aid, expressing Her love and care.
Loving Hut in San Paulo, Brazil had the opportunity to provide a fund of BRL 27,535.30 (US$11,706.50) for the relief work, with reimbursement available from Master, as always.
On July 8, together with two of our Association members from Paraguay, a team of our Brazilian Association members went to Itaqui and were received by Mayor Gil Marques Filho and Municipal Secretary of the Environment and Itaqui Civil Defense Chief, Mr. Ilca Figueiredo. After conveying Master’s loving concern to them, we went to visit the disaster area accompanied by the government officials.
Following the visit, we prepared a total of 500 food baskets, which we distributed to the affected people, accompanied by the Civil Defense staff. Each basket was filled with rice, flour, beans, oil, sugar, coffee, noodles, salt, tomato sauce and crackers. The recipients were very thankful to Master and prayed to God for Her good health. When the children received the candies and cookies purchased especially for them, they smiled happily.
Our relief team members feel privileged to have had the opportunity to convey love from Master to our Brazilian brothers and sisters in need.
Expenditures by The Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association for Flood Relief Work in Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil
Description | Amount (BRL) | Receipt |
---|---|---|
Rice, floor, beans, sugar, coffee, noodles, salt, tomato sauce and crackers | 27,535.30 | A |
Total | BRL 27,535.30 (US$11,706.50) |
The relief team members paid BRL 1,900 (US$818.50) for their own traveling expenses.