Thai Royal Army Sent Fo Guang Shan Relief Aid to Burma on the 13th.
Many people in Burma were injured or killed as the result of Cyclone Nargis. The Burmese government refused to allow in most foreign relief workers and aid. IBPS Bangkok reported on the 13th that the temple and Buddha’ s Light International Association (BLIA) Bangkok received donations of daily necessities. On that afternoon, a first batch of relief goods including bread, milk, canned food, bottled water, instant noodles, and toilet paper, etc., were delivered to the Royal Thai Army so that they can be sent to Burma. On the 15th, a second batch of material and medical aid will also be delivered to the Royal Thai Army.
According to Venerable Miao Sen, Abbess of IBPS Bangkok, as soon as she received instructions from Venerable Master Hsing Yun to fully support the disaster relief, she and members of BLIA Malaysia and BLIA Bangkok have been in close contact with the Royal Thai Army, who agreed to bring relief aid provided by Fo Guang Shan and BLIA to the disaster survivors starting on the 13th.
On the afternoon of the 13th, IBPS Bangkok and BLIA Bangkok delivered a first batch of relief goods including bread, milk, canned food, bottled water, instant noodles, and
toilet paper, etc., to the Thai Global Network operated by the Royal Thai Army. Gen. Kasem Argadvipas accepted the goods on behalf of the army, who will deliver them directly to the disaster survivors.
After the disaster news broke out, more than 200 Fo Guang Shan branch temples and BLIA chapters and subchapters worldwide have been soliciting donations of daily necessities in the hope of helping the disaster survivors through this hard time. The situations of the victims who stay at temporary shelters in the disaster areas have become worsened. Therefore, Fo Guang Shan and BLIA will donate 1,000 boxes of instant noodles and mosquito-repellant patches, etc., to help relieve hunger and insect bites. Daily necessities will continue to be provided to the survivors. Anyone who wish to donate goods, please contact BLIA World Headquarters; BLIA, R.O.C.; or the Fo Guang Shan Compassion Foundation.
Reports from Burma say that many disaster survivors are dehydrated. High fever and diarrhea also have taken the lives of some survivors. There is an urgent need for food and medicine in the disaster area, full of corpses and dirty drinking water. This condition may lead to the spread of other epidemic diseases, bringing survivors even more damage.