After years of war and poverty, "Taiwan" today is a synonym for "wealth." Looking around the globe, misery and starvation last for years in other countries plagued by long periods of war and natural disaster. For the last five years, Tzu Chi has accumulated people's love and provided relief beyond all national and racial boundaries to suffering victims in 15 countries. Recently, overseas Tzu Chi members have also joined the international relief programs. Thus, the model of using local resources to care for local people has slowly taken shape.

Peace Will Eventually Arrive
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is a small country between Europe and Asia. Once a province of the ancient Persian empire, it is rich with oil. In the late 1980s, it had territorial disputes with Armenia to the west, and 20% of its territory was occupied, forcing more than 700 to 800 thousand people out of their homes.

The long period of war resulted in a huge number of handicapped people, about 250,000 among the total population of more than seven million. When the Tzu Chi Foundation received a call for help from the University of London to provide joint aid to Azerbaijan, it formed a team of Tzu Chi members in Britain who went twice, in March and June of 1996, to investigate the situation.

Due to its poor financial situation, Azerbaijan could only treat and provide job opportunities for injured soldiers as its first priority. Resettlement of refugees was considered secondary, and children affected by the war (orphaned, injured and mentally retarded) were considered last.

After the inspection, the Tzu Chi Foundation in Taiwan and the British Tzu Chi liaison office joined hands with the University of London to begin a three-year relief program for Azerbaijan on November 1, 1996. The plan includes:

(1) improving refugees' lives:

providing 5,000 tents to refugees in Saatlie and Sabribad and 60 containers of clothing and blankets to help them to live through the winter, as well as presenting 300 wheelchairs to the disabled;

(2) helping disabled children:

providing clothing, medicine and food to the Saray Disabled Children's Home;

(3) improving hospital equipment:

the US Tzu Chi branch office, the British Tzu Chi liaison office and the University of London requested needed medical equipment from major hospitals and some companies and donated it to local hospitals in Azerbaijan.

A representative from Medicins du Monde went to visit Master Cheng Yen in Hualien. From his personal experience, he observed that when people trying to survive in a war wake up in the morning, they have no idea whether they will still see their families in the evening. That kind of horrible life not only ruins their lives but also drives them to the verge of a nervous breakdown.

James J. Chen, director of the Tzu Chi Overseas Development Department, went to sign the agreement with the University of London on December 9. "Man-made calamities are more horrible than natural ones," he said. "The broken homes and physical disabilities created by war may not be healed in ten years or may not be healed at all. Helping others is helping oneself. Nothing is permanent, so who can predict that a disaster will not fall on us someday? So, it is important for people to help each other."

Seed of Love Bears Fruit
Cambodia

At a commissioners meeting in December 1996, Master Cheng Yen said, "Right now, the rice seeds we gave to Cambodia one month ago are growing, and they should be this tall by now." She indicated with her hand the length of one's palm. She continued, "After some time when the rice plants are taller, people can harvest them and have rice to eat. Come to think of it, one seed can still have a tremendous effect."

Years of war left Cambodia without a drainage system. Poverty and backwardness made this country unable to cope with disasters. In August 1996, while the country was still in shambles from the continuing war, natural disasters again attacked without mercy. A series of storms swallowed up houses that had already been rebuilt. Of the 21 provinces, 13 were declared disaster areas, and the victims reached more than 1.3 million people, including 450,000 homeless. When Tzu Chi members went to inspect the situation three months after the floods, there was still water everywhere. Two thirds of the disaster area was still underwater, so it was impossible to tell where roads, fields, or house were.

It was very fortunate that other charity organizations were providing food to Cambodia, so the people could survive for the time being. Therefore, Tzu Chi decided to distribute 5,000 tons of rice seeds, so that the Cambodians could plant them after the floods had receded. After the harvest, the people would have the strength to rebuild their homes. This was the fourth distribution to victims in Cambodia since 1994.

Allowing Love to Approach Gradually
Northern Thailand

When the Nationalist government retreated to Taiwan in 1949, a large number of soldiers went to northern Thailand to continue battling against the Chinese Communists. The government in Taiwan continued to support them for a while, but cut off aid to them years ago. Because they are Chinese, they are foreigners in Thailand and cannot receive Thai citizenship or social welfare. Their condition was worsened due to the complicated immigration rules that the Nationalist government set forward; they cannot become Taiwanese citizens either. Thus, they have no nationality.

The Tzu Chi liaison office in Thailand was established a year ago. In March of this year, two Tzu Chi villages * Changlong in Ching Mai and Misara in Ching Rai * held foundation-laying ceremonies for new housing projects, and Tzu Chi members went to congratulate the residents. When Tzu Chi members went to Phatang and Bann-mai Nong Bua nursing homes, they also thoughtfully tried to find any old songs from the 1930s, so that the old soldiers could still enjoy a taste of the good old days. When the weather became colder, Tzu Chi members alwo presented new comforters and mattresses for the winter season.

Overseas Tzu Chi members in Bangkok joined with members in Taiwan to shoulder the responsibility together. Such concern and sincere caring are the goals of Tzu Chi international relief.

Compassion for All
Mainland China

In 1996, Tzu Chi carried out relief distributions in mainland China for victims of calamities caused by snow, earthquakes and floods.

"When our vehicles passed by the cliffs and the glaciers, we could see piles of animal corpses everywhere. The sight was really gruesome*"

An unprecedented snowstorm interrupted the lives of nomads. Ice covered the land, so that no grass could grow. Residents of the Tibetan autonomous district of Yushu had to give their own food to the animals, but unfortunately many animals died from the bitterly cold weather, leaving herders with neither animals nor food.

Despite the problem of low oxygen at the high elevation, Tzu Chi members formed a team and went to Chinghai Province in Tibet in April 1996. Residents in Hahsio and Chiehlung in Yushu County and Chingshuiho and Chenchin in Chengtuo County received 25 kilograms [55 lb] of food supplies for each household. Those families that had lost all livestock received 1,000 yuan [US$210] and families that still had some animals left received 500 yuan.

"We didn't see any green grass in Yushu, but we saw Tzu Chi's compassion." The bad living environment could not dampen the Tibetan people's will to live, nor could it stop the love from Taiwan's Tzu Chi.

On February 3, 1996, a major earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter scale struck Yunnan Province. People in Taiwan, which is located in the Pacific quake zone, had great sympathy for the victims. Within a few days, Tzu Chi members brought 3,000 comforters and 7,000 down jackets from Anhui and Hunan provinces, so that the victims, who were still terrified by aftershocks, could feel the warmth that was given.

After Typhoon Herb devastated Taiwan on July 31, 1996, it continued on to sweep the coast of mainland China. The storm forced seawater to flow back into towns, broke apart dikes and swept away food supplies.

After Tzu Chi had inspected the areas, it distributed food, down jackets and comforters in Hopei and Fukien provinces.

Relief programs are like bridges, allowing Taiwan's love to go to the other shore and to create pure love. "Real concern is expressed through action," said Master Te Huai, who has gone to China for relief distributions many times. "Many times, local people could know our sincerity through our smiles or behaviour without us having to explain it. They could also gradually turn love into action and offer their love to other people." At the distribution sites, we often saw local government leaders or police help victims load food on their carts or their backs. This was the best evidence.