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Emergency
Disaster Relief
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| (Translated by Linda Leu) |
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Emergency disaster relief aims at helping victims
of natural disasters and family emergencies, allowing them to
pass safely and peacefully through the hardships in their lives.
According to standard protocol, residents in
a specific location report disasters to local Tzu Chi commissioners,
who then gain a clear understanding of the situation before reporting
it either to the headquarters in Hualien or to their local branch
offices. Otherwise, involved persons report situations or solicit
assistance from the headquarters or local branch offices; then
social workers will decide whether or not to send commissioners
to conduct an investigation into whether aid should be provided
and what kind of assistance is needed.
Whenever emergencies or disasters occur, Tzu
Chi people immediately go to the scene to provide immediate assistance.
Master Cheng Yen reminds Tzu Chi volunteers
to always maintain the spirit of being "the first to arrive
and the last to leave." That is to say that when disasters
occur, commissioners rush immediately to the scene and begin mobilizing
human resources to help, comfort and care for disaster victims.
Also, after the disaster has passed, Tzu Chi's work must not end
until follow-up and after-care has determined that the victims
have become self-sufficient and are no longer suffering.
