People of Baravat join to help each other
BARAVAT, Iran-Since the relief
team from Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation arrived in Kerman
Province on Dec. 29, the team has been assessing needs in
Bam and neighboring Baravat, distributing aid, and providing
medical services when needed on a daily basis. For the distribution
effort, the team had distributed a total of 1,200 daily necessities
packs, 300 blankets, 100 first-aid kits, clothing and meal
boxes by January 5, with the help of local volunteers.
At Baravat, many people camped near their
ruined homes. Nearly every family suffered a loss from three
to as many as eleven members. On January 5, the relief team
visited the families, one by one. They saw elderly couples
who had lost their children and wide-eyed toddlers who had
lost their parents. The lack of clean drinking water and food
was causing diarrhea among the children. The team has since
worked with other agencies to deliver drinking water and food.
Many local Iranians, regardless of status
or wealth, contributed what they could to help each other.
Colonel Commander Ismail Zadeh, the military officer accompanying
the relief team for security purposes, personally handed out
blankets and medical kits along with the volunteers. The Iranian
bus driver for the relief team, while not particularly well-to-do
himself, donated blankets, food, and other supplies he had
with him.
The relief team expressed that despite
the great devastation, they also witnessed great warmth among
local people. After receiving the aid, a number of aid recipients
chased after the relief team to give them thank-you notes
or gifts of drinking water and fruits. One middle-aged woman
was very persistent in trying to give her only bag of oranges
to the volunteers. The sincerity of the quake survivors moved
the team members to tears.
On January 6, Tzu Chi's relief team went
to an area where interception and robbery of relief supplies
had been reported. As the people in this area still were in
need of relief supplies, the team decided to go forward with
the distribution. A military doctor, a local religious leader,
and local volunteers accompanied the team. Together, they
organized the blankets, clothing, and other relief materials
and then personally handed out the supplies to each family.
The distribution took place smoothly, orderly, and without
incident.
Although the relief team saw scenes of
devastation and suffering, they also witnessed the warmth
and genuine care between fellow human beings. Tzu Chi members,
therefore, believe that when there is an exchange of mutual
trust and respect, even in the worst of times, one can still
see the best in humanity.
