Tzu Chi Assesses Long-Term Aid for Quake
Survivors
The second relief team of
Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation departed for Iran on January
21. The team will assess long term assistance plans in the
areas of charity, medical care and education.
This ten-person relief team includes professionals
from medical, architectural, and cultural fields. The team
will coordinate the distribution of 2,500 tons of rice to
80,000 quake survivors in Bam from the end of February to
early March. With the three-month supply of rice, the city
should be able to start a warm Persian New Year on March 21.
The team will also evaluate ways to build
an emergency medical command center to provide medication
and supplies, and to reconstruct houses and schools. Master
Cheng Yen, the founder of Tzu Chi, reminded the team to respectfully
take local customs into consideration as they carry out relief
work, and to encourage more local people to help and care
for each other.
The team departed for Iran on January
21, the eve of Chinese New Year, which is traditionally an
important day for family reunion. Although team members cannot
be with their families, they are eager to help bring peace
and safety to families in Iran.
