A Tzu Chi medical team from
the United States and Canada visits Sri Lanka for disaster
relief and achieves their objective in helping the tsunami
victims
Help
the old lady bring the distribution goods home and hope her
life can be improved.
After the devastating disaster which
claimed so many lives, the beauty of human nature, crossing
the boundaries of nations and races, can be seen everywhere.
The Tzu Chi group took immediate action and mobilized volunteers
across the globe to initiate the plan for disaster relief.
In the United States, Tzu Chi hosted major fundraising events
and delegated volunteers to participate in the "United
States and Canada Free Clinic Team for Sri Lanka Disaster
Relief" in the disaster area. Overcoming extreme heat,
road hazards, and energy shortages, Tzu Chi delivered the
love of the volunteers to the disaster area safely and punctually.
The dedicated kindness and enthusiastic services offered by
the volunteers presented glimpse of light for the suffering
victims.
By Jessie Team
The United States
and Canada Free Clinic Team for Sri Lanka Disaster Relief
arrived at the tsunami disaster areas on Jan. 24th 2005. They
held free clinics and distributed relief goods to help support
the victims who required immediate assistance. Forty one Tzu
Chi volunteers from U.S. and Canada, plus Free Clinic Team
members from other countries cooperated together to achieve
the objective of providing emergency assistance, medical treatment,
emotional support, and living sustenance for the people in
need.
Approximately
6,300 patients received treatment, and 250 tons of rice, milk
powder, sugar, and cooking oil were distributed, benefiting
17,696 people. A total of 1,200 victims settled down at the
196 "Da Ai" tents, the temporary housing tents provided
by Tzu Chi until the 1,000 housing complex complete construction.
In the tents, aside from water and electricity, communal kitchen
and bathrooms were provided to share among twelve families.
Meanwhile, 104 additional tents are projected to be completed
in February 2005.
The Vice President
of Tzu Chi Foundation USA Headquarter, Ji Sher Ger, was the
team leader of the Free Clinic Team. Combining the passion,
resources, and fundraised financial support from people all
over the globe, they assisted the rebuilding Sri Lanka disaster
areas. With Tzu Chi's benevolent humanitarian spirit and principles
in mind, the volunteers worked with the local residents enduring
the time of incredible hardship caused by the catastrophe.
From Different
Places the Journey Began
On Jan. 24th 2005,
the United States and Canada Free Clinic Team for Sri Lanka
Disaster Relief team, consisting of forty one members, departed
for the tsunami disaster areas from Canada, New York, San
Francisco, Los Angeles, Hawaii, and Taiwan.
The New York team
nearly missed their flight due to the storm. Brother Ji Jue
Ju, who had just attended the opening ceremony of employment
training center in El Salvador, rushed directly from the New
York airport from the New Jersey airport without taking a
rest stop at home. Following Brother Ju, Brother Ji Rong Fan
arrived from Hawaii shortly. Sister Lu Rong Lin and Dr. Rong
Yuan Ji departed from Taiwan to join the relief team as well.
The USA Team assembled from five different locations, taking
almost forty hours of flight time to rendezvous at the other
end of the globe, Singapore.
The team arrived
at midnight; they were welcomed by the slender coconut trees,
dark-skinned local residents, and new volunteers from Sri
Lanka. "How far away is the disaster area?" Local
resident answered that it would take another six hour drive.
Since it was already late night, the team stayed in the Colombo
Hotel for the night. The next day, the team met with the Canadian
team and departed for Hambantota, one of the heavily impacted
disaster areas. The driver took the mountain route, therefore
devastation sights were hidden from us. As everyone became
accustomed to the driver's aggressive driving style, the screams
were gradually replaced by the sound of steady respiration.
Hambantota, a narrow
yet long coastal city located south of Sri Lanka, is surrounded
by the Indian Ocean and a salt water lagoon on the other end.
"Hamban", in the Sri Lankan language, means a special
type of fishing boat, and "Thota" means harbor.
Passing by a few scattered fishing boats, the remains of the
buildings after the flood could be seen around the coast,
drastically contrast the beautiful scenery at Hambantota.
Passing by the city devastated by water, the USA team joined
the Canada team at the clinic, marking the official participation
with the medical team from Taiwan, continuing their clinic
services that started since December 30th 2004.
Great Doctors
Save Countless Lives
A month had passed
since the Tzu Chi's free medical treatment in Sri Lanka had
occurred, but many villagers still coming in for treatment.
This indicates the deficiency of treatment and medical resources
at the area. Under the scorching sun, Tzu Chi medical volunteers
treat the patients without interruption. This was really a
challenge on the stamina of the doctors and nurses coming
from US; with their swollen legs, sore feet, and stiff backs,
everyone still persevered to perform their duties.
Tzu-tze Lee, a dental
assistant from LA, expressed, "When I was volunteering
at El Salvador, I thought the locals there neglected proper
dental health. I find the condition even more severe in Sri
Lanka. The local residents' teeth appear to be black. The
habit of chewing betel nut only exacerbated the condition
of their teeth." Due to the inadequate dental healthcare
in Sri Lanka, the four boxes of toothbrush and toothpaste
donation from Los Angeles dentists offered great contribution
to the treatment. Dentist Chin-Hsing Liao and dentist assistant
Tzu Chih Lee treated numerous patients, with the assistance
of two local volunteers. Dr. Liao also encouraged a talented
local dentist assistant, Kaya, to continue improving his dental
techniques in order to ameliorate the condition of local dental
healthcare.
A fourteen year old
patient has a skin condition that connected her pinky and
ring finger together in both hands. Her family explained they
left her condition untreated since birth because they could
not afford the medical expenses. The volunteer Dr. Chi Jung
Fan discovered that the cost for this life altering surgery
would only cost twenty US dollars, but it was still a major
financial burden for the child's family. Understanding the
patient's need for treatment, Dr. Fan administered the treatment
to the girl immediately with collaboration of Dr. Hsu from
Malaysia, freeing her fingers.
Chinese medicine
treatment appeared to be "magical" for the local
resident at Sri Lanka, although the country has a deep rooted
oriental culture. The residents seemed fairly tolerant of
the practice and they did not show fear after seeing the process
of acupuncture and acupressure massage for the first time.
In fact, the number of patients increased daily. The local
volunteer translator was fascinated while observing the Chinese
medical treatment, like a child watching a magic performance.
Although one patient cried out painfully during the acupressure
massage treatment, the patient's spinal cord was successfully
straightened after the session.
Dr. Jung-Yuan Chi
was very impressed with a patient named Lalitha. Lalitha's
right hand could barely move when she first arrived at the
clinic center. Dr. Chi understood that her family wanted to
help their hungry fellow countrymen who have lost their homes
after escaping from tsunami; therefore, her family helped
to cook for the tsunami victims. After three weeks of extraneous
cooking, Lalitha found her right hand unable to function.
Her hand finally healed after treatment from the clinic.
Due
to overflowing patients and lack of doctors, patients waited
long time in hunger and thirst, and some fainted from heatstroke.
Volunteers like Sister Tzu Peng, Tien Ni, Hsin Yuan and Chih
Yuan were very considerate and tended the waiting patients
with water bottles. It was not possible to provide the hundreds
of people a full lunch, hence volunteers distributed cookies
and small rice balls to serve those who need food immediately.
Sister Miao Shu provided activities including sing-after-me,
sign language and impromptu acting to entertain the waiting
patients. Using the power of music provided by Tzu Chi volunteers,
her presence and attention to the awaiting patients helped
alleviate their distressfulness.
In the temporary
medical clinic center, inconveniences are expected. The kitchen
faucet stopped working sporadically; therefore, Tzu Chi volunteers
had to retrieve buckets of water from the water tower to wash
vegetables and clean dishes. As the stove gas supplies ran
out, volunteers have to replace the tanks immediately so people
will not go hungry. Due to unstable power, the alarm would
activate randomly, adding anxiety to the already stressful
team. The General Affair Team and the Ground Alert Team members,
and many other Tzu Chi brothers played the roles of "fire
fighters" to resolve emergency problems. With shortage
of living necessities such as water, food, and power, everyone
face these challenges with enthusiasm and conquered the difficulties
with great perseverance.
The small diagnosis
room in the clinic was often full of patients, but the doctors
tried their best not to have a long waiting line. As a result,
the doctors usually worked continuously for long hours and
treated patients tirelessly. Sometimes the doctors would entertain
the unhappy children by showing their acting talent. The physician's
assistants Chih-Cheng Wang, San-San Chiang and Su-Ching Yang
have shown their caring and considerate spirit by talking
and comforting each patient while assisting the doctors during
treatment. After an exhausting day's work, all the volunteers,
with dry mouth and swollen legs, continued serving patients
with smiling faces. Many patients were touched by the compassion
and dedication shown by the Tzu Chi members that some elder
patients would hold and kiss the doctor's or nurse's hands
to express their appreciation.
Sister Bi Cheng Yu
and Ling Hua Chen are both retired from their position as
pharmacist and physician assistant, respectively; however,
it was a very pleasant experience for them to reapply their
skills during this volunteer opportunity. The simplicity and
sincerity shown by the Sri Lankans have left a very heartfelt
impression on them. Many patients took off their shoes before
entering the clinic. At first, Tzu Chi sisters retrieve the
shoes back to the patient since they did not know their custom.
After retrieving may pairs of shoes, the sisters finally realized
that this was the way the patients honor their respect to
the Tzu Chi medical staff.
Aside from battling
against the humid weather and the language barrier, the biggest
challenge was to comprehend the unique method of communication
by their head movement. The way they express "yes"
or "ok" is to move their head following a small
figure "8" pattern. Tzu Chi volunteers, who were
unfamiliar with the custom, often misinterpret this gesture
as a negative response. "Do you feel better now?"
Dr. Chi once asked a patient. The patient waved his head to
express that he was feeling better, but Dr. Chi misunderstood
his response and kept treating the patient. Also, when villagers
were asked if they have any relatives who died or were injured
by the tsunami, the villagers often moved their heads in responding
yes, thus confused the volunteers as a result.
After finishing the
medical treatment, all volunteers and medical staff members
were divided into teams to bring various cakes and fruits
to visit the Tzu Chi Tent Area residents, hoping to understand
the residents' living situation after they moved into these
tents. During the visit, Tzu Chi volunteers met a five years
old girl, Fatimah, who drew a picture depicting what happened
during the tsunami. With fish, flooded houses, and capsized
vehicles on the drawing, the children clearly conveyed their
thoughts at the moment of the disaster in a way that could
not be expressed in words. Some children drew overturned cars,
people climbing on coconut trees, trees bending under pressure,
and people calling for help in water.
Delivery and Distribution
of Goods
The
day before the delivery of relief goods, Tzu Chi volunteers
went to Hungama Primary School at Amblantota to prepare for
the event. Facing time constraints, the volunteers worked
laboriously; luckily, the local volunteers brought fifty to
sixty students to support the Tzu Chi workers. While those
students were working diligently, they also tried to learn
English from American and Canadian volunteers. American volunteers'
leader, Brother Ger, expressed his sincere appreciation because
"without these kind children, the distribution would
not have completed smoothly on schedule."
At 7:30 AM on the
day of the distribution, people were already congregated in
the distribution area. Brother Ger read the letter from Venerable
Master Cheng Yen in English, expressing the concern and blessing
to the Sri Lankan people. Afterwards, with all the five hundred
residents, the members of Tzu Chi prayed for a peaceful society
without disasters.
It was essential
to arrange the distribution line efficiently in order to effectively
distribute all the foods to 1,500 suffering people under the
scorching sunlight. Consequently, after complete their tasks
at the volunteer clinic in the morning, Brothers Chi To, Chi
Yin, Chu Yen, Chi Tsa then rushed to the village that was
scheduled for distribution to search for a proper location
for the event. Their tasks included making the arrangement
for delivery, communicating with the village representatives,
and coordinating local people and students to assist these
tasks.
Due
to language barriers and the extreme heat, distribution goods
were a challenging task. Undisturbed by these difficulties,
the Tzu Chi volunteers worked even more enthusiastically.
With smiles on their faces, the volunteers greeted the villagers,
and repeated the only native blessing words they knew, "Bohoma
Isthuthi." As the volunteers did not have any prior training,
their inaccurate pronunciation was quite hilarious for the
locals. The residents, on the other hand, could feel the volunteers'
genuine concerns and enthusiasm. With grateful feeling, the
residents approached the volunteers and expressed their gratitude
by shaking hands.
The group traveled to three different locations to distribute
goods. The second location is at the station near Hambantota,
and the third one at Tissamaharama. The volunteers need to
drive eight hours to catch the plane back to Colombo, therefore,
they worked even harder to complete the distribution effort
earlier. It almost seemed impossible to complete such large
scale distribution on time, if weren't for the help of many
local volunteers. Many volunteer doctors and nurses offered
to assist in various activities such as transporting goods,
counseling patients, and providing entertainment for the victims.
Visits and Concerns
for the Distressed Families
After the distribution,
volunteers attempted visit each suffering families on the
Hambantota distributing list, to offer their assistance. With
limited successes, the group made their best effort to find
the families; often the houses were either destroyed or vacated
already. As they walked across the ground that was once submerged
by the ocean water, they saw shards of clothing on top of
the trees that were fortunate enough to survive the disaster.
Besides the deep blue ocean and the beach made of sparkling
sand, a boundless ruin full of debris and wreckage could be
seen, representing another sorrowful story at the wake of
the disaster.
In one destroyed
house lived a woman who lost a son and a daughter; only the
husband and another son escaped the disasters. The husband
was fishing far away from land when the tsunami occurred.
He witnessed the huge waves that wiped out Hambantota, and
he was not able to go back until the next morning since the
harbor was destroyed. In the morning of January 28th, 2005,
a small broadcasting vehicle appeared on the street, sending
out a series of announcement in Sinhala. Upon hearing the
news, the awaiting patients and people in the tents began
to stir uneasily. With signs of panic on their faces, many
people became agitated and the alarmed parents rushed into
schools to take their frightened children home. Through translation,
the volunteers learned that the announcement indicated appearance
of another tsunami. Observing the frantic reaction and the
uncontrolled consternation, the locals are clearly still panic
stricken from the past disaster. A later broadcast retracted
the tsunami warning, and the situation was finally calmed.
Tzu Chi Tents
Sheltered the Distressed Souls
In
order to keep the tent clean, volunteers took off their shoes
before entering.
With the assistance
from Sri Lankan Navy and the Pakistani Army, the first phase
of 196 Tzu Chi Tents was near completion. As the Sri Lankan
villagers waited anxiously to move in, the volunteers have
to speed up the final construction details.
Prior construction,
Brother Wen Jei Lee provided everyone few reminders, such
as Sri Lankan custom to take off the shoes before entering
the room. Volunteers from Northern hemisphere have undergone
the physical endurance test to work under the scorching sun.
The tents were built larger than usual with multi-layer ventilation
and screens to overcome the insects and the hot yet raining
weather.
On January 31st 2005,
the opening ceremony for the tents was held. Combining the
love and dedication of all the volunteers and Tzu Chi members
worldwide, the tents were finally completed. Brother Ger announced
during the celebration that "although these tents are
a temporary solution, we believe that your permanent homes
will be built promptly."
Tzu Chi also prepared
26 household items as a move-in gift for the residents. To
the people who had lost everything during the terrible disaster,
these relatively basic items are practical blessings to assist
their recovery. After the ceremony, the residents happily
formed in lines to receive the supplies. Among them was Samila,
a native local girl with a family of four that lost everything
to the tsunami. For over a month, they did not have a meal
made by themselves; they lived on the relief goods from different
organizations. After obtaining the supplies, she timidly whispered
to the volunteers that she could finally cook for the family.
When she got back to the tent, she carefully took out the
supplies and began their new lives again.
Warmth under "Da
Ai Tents"
After the afternoon
clinic, the volunteers and medical staffs formed groups to
provide care and survey the living condition of the residents
in the tents. Volunteers brought rice cakes to bond with the
residents and candies for the children. Volunteers visited
every tent to deliver blessings from Tzu Chi volunteers, encouraging
the resident to recover and embark on their new life.
Several doctors also
visited the tents to serve those handicapped during tsunami,
and provided proper health education to the residents with
the first-aid kit brought from Taiwan. Mrs. Shintha Nona was
injured in the tsunami with a deep wound on her left leg.
Her injury required her to reapply the medicine at the hospital,
but her physical condition severely limited her mobility.
Dr. Chen immediately taught the basic wound treatment process
to the patient's sister so the patient could avoid traveling
to the hospital. Although the tents could only provide a temporary
shelter for the residents, love and warmth were shared and
spread in the tent as well.
Continue the Good
Relationship with the Disaster Area Rebuilt
Culinary Bodhisattvas
prepared the best dishes with their best effort in order to
let the team members enjoy familiar family foods in a foreign
town. Sometimes they would experiment with local exotic dishes
and try varieties of foods. Aside from the main meals, snacks
such as coffee and mung bean soup, were also prepared to provide
energy for the hardworking staff in the clinic and the office.
In the afternoon
of the 30th, a table was placed in the open space, with candles
and pieces of foliage, in front of the free clinic in preparation
for the volunteer appreciation dinner. A group of volunteers
prepared lanterns and built a natural dance stage out of a
dirt mound with the help of some Pakistan volunteers.
The tent area was
well lit with many lamps. The appreciation dinner started
under the swinging coconut trees and a clear sky full of stars.
Besides volunteers from Taiwan, United States, Canada, Malaysia,
and Pakistan, France, and Sri Lanka, many tent residents also
attended this event showing a beautiful picture of Da Ai global
village. Those people who shared their feelings have so much
gratitude no matter who they were and what languages they
spoke. With the music of prayer, Tzu Chi volunteers led by
Director Jing Gui and Hospital Superintendent Lin, lit the
candles symbolizing lamps of the hearts for the guests. Passing
the candle light, Sri Lanka shined again in the compassion
of the world; regardless of religion, language and nationality,
everyone supports, leans, and depends on each other, sharing
gratitude together and reluctant to depart for the night.
It's
hard to forget the scene of departing from the disaster area.
It's also hard to explain the sadness of seeing volunteers
leaving the disaster victims. The quiet and reserved ones
sobbed while the extraverts hugged tightly. Every volunteer's
package was full of love; a bundle of plastic flowers, a sea
shell, a white stone, or a small coconut leaf was precious
and holds wonderful memory to the volunteers. The driver Wamle,
who assisted us in purchases, bought all the coconuts at "Ten
Mile Hill" and chased down the three midsize buses that
are taking the volunteers. He insisted every one tastes the
delicious coconut juice once again. Those little girls who
were following the buses also waved to the volunteers. Tzu
Chi volunteers won't let the victims down. They will continue
the good relationship and spread the big love to the land
of trauma.
