On May 15, Tzu Chi started the global "Great Love from Tzu Chi to the Suffering in China and Myanmar" fundraising and began the aid distribution in Myanmar. May 15, 1:20 pm, the monastics of Jing Si Abode, Tzu Chi staff and volunteers gathered at Tzu Chi Headquarters, Hualien, to pray for the victims.【Photograph by Shi De Lin】

Tzu Chi Disaster Relief Team in Myanmar entered the disaster area on May 10, 2008. After a series of negotiations with the local government, the relief team started aid distribution to 300 families on May 15 in Nganeoyeik emergency centre in Shewebaukan, Yangon. Tzu Chi will also prepare for a mobile clinic and give aid to more victims.

Since the onslaught of Cyclone Nargis on May 2, global attention has been focused on the devastation in Myanmar. International relief agencies are planning to send relief to the disaster area where the victims had received very limited aid to-date. After coordinating and negotiating with the local government, Tzu Chi was able to distribute aid to 300 families, or approximately 1000 victims, on May 15.

The aid supplies consisted of water resistant jackets, torches, mosquito-repellent incense, rice, cooking oil, salt and soybean products. A second distribution took place on May 17 in nearby Yangon, which benefitted 900 families, or approximately 4,000 victims.

Tzu Chi has appealed to everyone not to forget about the international aid needed for the cyclone victims in Myanmar while helping the earthquake victims in Sichuan, China. Cyclone Nargis had devastated much of Myanmar, causing a death toll of more than 110,000, and leaving 1.5 million people homeless. There is also the fear of epidemic outbreaks. 

In order to help the victims in both China and Myanmar, Tzu Chi has started the "Great Love from Tzu Chi to the Suffering in China and Myanmar" fundraising campaign. The call is for all to embrace the global village with Great Love. Everyone can help and care for the disaster victims by putting good thoughts into action to help the victims in overcoming their respective crisis. It is also hoped that everyone will be pious and sincere.

(Reprint from Tzu Chi Global Web)