Tzu Chi Continues Emergency Relief Efforts
After Typhoon Toraji
Reported by Wu Chi-chun
(Translated by Stephen Tang, Milpitas office)
After Typhoon Toraji slammed into Taiwan,
Tzu Chi mobilized volunteers from the central and eastern parts
of the island to offer disaster relief to the devastated areas.
Despite road closures, the foundation also continuously dispatched
volunteers from northern and southern Taiwan to the badly stricken
areas of Nantou and Hualien counties. Disaster relief efforts
included delivery of food, disbursement of relief funds, medical
treatment, and cleanup. In all, over 3,000 Tzu Chi volunteers
were mobilized throughout the island. Master Cheng Yen asked
the public to help each other and to protect our homeland.
In the morning of August 2, Master Cheng Yen
told volunteers that she often speaks of love and asks everyone
to keep love in their hearts and care for everyone in their
communities. This typhoon was really serious. Ever since it
struck, many volunteers have teamed up on their own to provide
relief supplies, offer medical treatment to survivors, and help
clean up their homes. With many roads closed, many volunteers
are in dangerous situations. The Master worries about disaster
victims, but she is also concerned about the safety of the volunteers.
She pointed out that even during this difficult period, many
people are giving all they can. Road workers have dedicated
themselves to reopening blocked roads. Devoted people in different
organizations are also risking their lives to restore electricity
and water. If everyone can give this kind of love to help each
other, the disaster will be over very soon.
For two days, Tzu Chi disaster relief activities
have been carried out in many places. Volunteers are helping
in the following disaster areas: Shitun District, Taichung City;
Chingshui Township, Taichung County; Muchiliao, Chushan Township,
Nantou County; Ruitien, Luku Village, Nantou County; Kuohsing
Village, Nantou County; and Tahu and Houlung, Miaoli County.
In addition to cleaning houses and gardens and distributing
relief funds, volunteers cooked hot food for typhoon victims
at Chichi Junior High School, Nantou County, and at Chuolan
Township, Chushan Township, and Luku Elementary School, Miaoli
County. Volunteers went on foot to remote mountain locations
to deliver supplies to residents. Considering the health conditions
of the survivors, the Tzu Chi Dalin Hospital in Chiayi County
dispatched a medical team to provide free clinics for typhoon
victims. Because of the widespread area of the disaster, about
four hundred more volunteers were recruited from the Taipei,
Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung and Pingtung areas.
In Hualien, the service center located at
Kuangfu Village in Tahshing Township provided hot meals for
survivors and rescue workers. At the first disaster site, the
bodies of three victims were dug up from the mud. Tzu Chi members
chanted Amitabha for the dead, and accompanied the victims'
families at this most difficult time. At Chienching Village
in Wanjung Township, twelve houses were buried by landslides.
Master Cheng Yen personally inspected sites donated for the
construction of temporary housing, and she has decided to start
building ten temporary houses for emergency relief. Tzu Chi
volunteers will be mobilized to build these houses in the near
future. Volunteers distributed relief funds in Kuangfu Village,
Fenglin Township, and Fengping Village. About three hundred
volunteers helped clean up mud and debris in the most affected
households.
For disaster relief efforts in Taichung, Nantou
and Hualien, the Tzu Chi Foundation has already disbursed about
NT$20 million (about US$606,000) to survivors, and mobilized
over five thousand volunteers to cook hot meals, help clean
up, and provide emotional support. There are eighteen service
centers throughout the disaster areas. If any local residents
need help, they can contact their local Tzu Chi service center.
Facing the severe damage caused by Typhoon
Toraji, the Tzu Chi Foundation follows its principles for emergency
relief. Volunteers are helping families through this difficult
time in three stages: emergency rescue, resettling and caring
for survivors, recovery and reconstruction.
