Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association relief news from South Korea. At least 33 people perished and 3,050 others were displaced after record rainfalls at the end of July deluged the city of Seoul and surrounding regions in Gyeonggi province, inundating 10,000 homes and some 1,000 hectares of land.
Relief recipient, lives along, Umyeon-dong, Seoul, South Korea (F):It was knee-high here and look at that! It’s all destroyed. It’s wrecked. With little money, there is nowhere to move, and I have never lived in basement flat before, but this is first time I moved into such place. My husband died 15 years ago. Sending all her love and sorrowful prayers, Supreme Master Ching Hai donated US$10,000, asking that our nearby Association members please go aid the most desperate. Following their initial efforts in several areas around the capital city Seoul, our Association’s South Korean relief team returned to Bangbae-dong at the beginning of August. Responding to an official's request, they worked to remove water and mud from the elevator of a multiplex housing unit so that a mechanic could repair it. Relief recipient, Bangbae-dong, Seoul, South Korea (F): The mountain collapsed and the landslide struck my house. I was so upset. I’m truly thankful to the volunteer workers because they came twice. After I saw the volunteers working hard, I’d like to do the same in the future.
VOICE: The relief team then headed to Hyungchon village and consulted with a social worker in Umyeon-dong’s community center. With the help of the village chief, our Association members delivered 20 kilograms of rice to 95 households whose homes were flooded. Kim Sang-Wun, chief of Hyungchon village, Umyeon-dong, Seoul, South Korea (M): Flood damage is big due to heavy rains. Roads were destroyed and inundated, and it’s a bad situation. Residents who live in semi-basement flats in Hyungchon village are in most need. And I’m so relieved for the rice bags. VOICE: On August 2, the relief team heard on the news about a postal service worker in Yongin who lost his life while on duty during the torrential rains. They went to offer comfort to the bereaved family, a single mother,three sisters, and uncle.
Our Association members also gave them condolence funds from Master as well as information about the vegan solution to climate change, including the book, “From Crisis to Peace.” Social workers at the Umyeon-dong and Yangjae-dong community centers then told the relief team about seven elderly and less fortunate flood victims who were living alone.
After preparing gift packages containing personal necessities, vegan cookies, and hygienic kits, the team went to each house and delivered the gift bags along with rice and cash assistance. They also helped clean one semi-basement house which was flooded. Oh Soo-Min, Social worker, Umyeon-dong Community Center, Seoul, South Korea (F): About 84 houses are flooded in Umyeon-dongarea. Among the affected, seven elders who live alone in particular need most help. The support from Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association is really helpful for us. Thank you! Relief recipient, Yangjae-dong, Seoul, South Korea (F): We were hit by the flood and we have a lot to repair,but we have nothing, so it’s a suffocating situation. I’m sad about this reality. But, unexpectedly, Supreme Master Ching Hai and the organization suddenly sent us relief material and comforted us, so I’m thankful for her donation. It’ll be great help. Thank you so much!
VOICE: We join in appreciation, all officials and personnel, for your assistance to the flood victims. Our thankfulness also for Supreme Master Ching Hai’s heartfelt aid and for the diligent help of our Association’s relief team. Wishing the flood-affected a smooth return to their productive daily lives as we pray for the subsiding of such destructive calamities through our kinder, eco-stabilizing lifestyles.
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