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Tzu Chi's Relief Team is on Standby
Sat, 16 Jan 2010
Tzu Chi Foundation
Tzu Chi Emergency Coordination Center was established immediately after the earthquake struck Haiti. Photo by Lin Mei-shue
At
least 350,000 packs of instant rice, 500,000 of corn power and other
relief goods have been prepared for shipment as of January 14. In US, nationwide fundraisers will be held on January 16, 17, 23, 24.
Tzu
Chi Emergency Coordination Center was established immediately after the
earthquake struck Haiti. The Coordination Center has identified three
areas of focus for Tzu Chi’s immediate relief work in Haiti: 1) Relief
aid distribution; 2) Medical assistance; 3) Global fundraising efforts.
Tzu Chi’s relief team, including volunteers and doctors from the US and
the Dominican Republic, are on standby along with large quantities of
relief goods and medical supplies.
As of January 14, Tzu Chi global headquarters and
Tzu Chi USA headquarters have prepared at least 350,000 packs of
instant rice, 500,000 packs of corn powder, 20,000 eco-friendly
blankets, 50,000 sets of eco-friendly utensils, as well as used
clothing, medical kits, vitamins, ointments and other medical supplies.
These relief goods are ready to be shipped and delivered as soon as a
proper transportation route is being established. More relief goods are
being prepared while the relief team is on standby.
TIHAA
developed instant rice for use during relief operations. Each pack of
instant rice is ready to be served by adding cold or hot water.
There is a need of food, blankets, and medical aid in Haiti. Tzu Chi International Humanitarian Aid Association
(TIHAA) previously developed instant rice for use during relief
operations. Each pack of instant rice is ready to be served 40 minutes
after pouring in cold water, or 20 minutes after pouring in hot water.
In addition, corn powder can be mixed with either cold or hot water for
use as a meal. TIHAA has also previously developed eco-friendly
blankets, each made up of 70 recycled PET bottles (recycled by Tzu Chi
recycling volunteers), which can help the survivors in Haiti since many
survivors are sleeping on the streets. Tzu Chi International Medical Association
(TIMA) has doctors and medical personnel, along with vitamins,
ointments and other medical supplies, on standby, ready to enter in
Haiti when possible.
As of January 14, there are no heavy
machineries at the airport to lift goods or passable roads to transport
goods into the city. With the prisoners in Port-au-Prince escaped out
of the prison, and millions of survivors homeless and bodies all over
the city, the situation in Haiti is not safe. Therefore, Master Cheng
Yen, the founder of Tzu Chi Foundation, advised the Tzu Chi Emergency
Coordination Center to focus on centralizing its efforts and paving a
path for the upcoming relief work in the mean time. Master Cheng Yen
also calls on everyone to “nurture our compassion in times of
suffering, and challenge our wisdom in times of change.”
Tzu
Chi global headquarters has initiated a global fundraising campaign to
deliver the love from people around the globe to the survivors in
Haiti. To kick off the global fundraising campaign, on January 16, 17,
23 and 24, Tzu Chi volunteers in the US will be holding fundraisers
throughout the nation. Depending on the weather in each city, the
location of fundraisers may vary.
Please contact your local Tzu Chi office for more information.
Please
continue to deliver your kind thoughts or pray for the people in Haiti
and invite your families and friends to do the same. Tzu Chi will help
to deliver your love directly to the hands of the survivors in Haiti.
Your donation of any amount will go a long way to help the suffering
people in Haiti; every cent of donation will go directly to the
survivors in Haiti. Together, let us help Haiti with love!
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