Aid in Burma Dried Tears from Nargis

Nargis, source: NASA

Under the reign of the junta, Burma has been closing itself from the outside world for many years due to the military government and its domestic commotions. However, after the devastating cyclone Nargis, Burma had to open its door to foreign aid which began to arrive. The cyclone left more than 22,000 dead yet still the foreign diplomats told that the toll could soar up to 100,000. Amid the horrendous tragedy, there are also the risk of disease outbreak and starvation.

 

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The worst affected area was in the vast south-west of Irrawaddy delta. The crisis is already seen as the worst natural disaster in South-East Asia since the tsunami attack in December 2004. Ninety-five percent of houses are destroyed causing more than 190,000 people homeless. Survivors have to live among dead bodies, waiting for the arriving aid. There are left hungry, thirsty and vulnerable to disease while there are difficulties in wide area to get access to as roads were cut off and alleviations were delayed.

 

.................................................................................. Luang Phaw Dhammajayo The president of Dhammakaya Foundation, Thailand		.................................................................................. Hai Tao Fa Sue The president of Life Education Foundation and Life TV Channel, Taiwan

 

 

Ven. Amnuaysak Munisakko sent emergency relief to Gen. Kin Mong Sol,	20,000 aid kits

 

On 7^th May 2008 Ven. Amnuaysak Munisakko, the representative of the collaboration between the most Venerable Prarajabhavanavisuth, the President of Dhammakaya Foundation from Thailand and the most Venerable Hai Tao Fa Sue, the president of the Life Education Foundation and Life TV Channel from Taiwan sent more than 20,000 aid kits (worth more than 7 million baht) – including water, medicines, food and robes for the monks - for emergency relief to Burmese Embassy in Bangkok.

Gen. Kin Mong Sol, military ambassador of Burma in Bangkok said fresh water and other basic supplies were the most urgently needed for the cyclone survivors. Without clean drinking water, the risk of disease spreading was the most serious problem. Children would be seriously vulnerable to diarrhea, dysentery and even cholera. Medicines including anti-dehydration salts and antibiotics were also urgently needed as well. Getting the right supplies to the worst hit areas would help to prevent further death toll. Gen. Kin Mong Sol expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Dhammakaya Foundation.

 

 

Even though this severe tragedy took away lives of many people in Burma, the Dhammakaya Foundation and the Dhammakaya Temple would never neglect the need of people who lived in fear and tears from the loss. As the Lord Buddha said,

 

“Sharing is great.”

 

 

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