Tzu Chi volunteers working day and
night
Over thirty Tzu Chi volunteers are at the
scene of the World Trade Center's collapse, providing support
to rescue workers. Doctors from the Tzu Chi International
Medical Association (TIMA) have also been called in to treat
victims in the disaster area. Tzu Chi USA main office in southern
California has continually received requests over the phone
and the internet asking for help in locating family members
in New York. Tzu Chi Seattle is sheltering ten Taiwanese students
who are unable to return to their colleges due to the grounding
of commercial flights.
The World Trade Center extreme disaster
area is currently under military control. All persons entering
the area must go through a security check. Although doctors,
nurses and construction professionals are urgently needed
in the disaster area, due to security concerns, authorities
must review the list of volunteers before notifying them to
join the rescue efforts. On September 13, over thirty volunteers
from Tzu Chi entered the disaster area with the escort of
the Salvation Army, providing support to frontline rescue
workers. In addition to supplying unlimited bottles of water,
they have prepared first aid supplies such as hydrogen peroxide
and pain relievers. Two doctors from TIMA New York have been
notified and will immediately join the medical team.
Responding to Red Cross' request, Tzu Chi
New York is supporting the Broadway, East River and Javic
Center relief stations in Manhattan to provide daily necessities
to local residents and rescue workers. For the past two days
Tzu Chi New Jersey has supplied drinking water, blankets and
towels to two shelters established for commuters who live
in New York and work in New Jersey.
Since setting up the hotline, Tzu Chi USA
has received many requests from family members in Taiwan looking
for their loved ones. Volunteers in Tzu Chi New Jersey are
actively processing the requests. In Seattle, with the cancellation
of flights ten students from Taiwan were unable to return
to their colleges in other parts of the U.S. Having no cash
with them, the students were arranged to temporarily settle
in the Tzu Chi Seattle office.
