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GREAT LOVE ACROSS THE TAIWAN STRAITS |
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| QINGHAI Warmth at 4,500 Meters  Relief
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#Grain and subsidies were provided for flood victims in Yushu, an
autonomous district ruled by the Tibetan people. At the end of April 1996, Tzu Chi relief team members, loaded with luggage and equipped with oxygen bottles, overcame fatigue and mountain sickness to climb up to the highland at an altitude of 4,500 meters (14,850 ft). They delivered grain to the villages of Qingshuihe and Zhenqin in Chengduo County and Jielong and Hashu in Yushu County. They also distributed cash subsidies to families that had little or no livestock. By estimate, 15,000 victims benefited from the distribution. "Jiezhenqie! Zhaxidele!" (Thank you! We wish everything goes your way!) When the Tibetan people received relief supplies from Tzu Chi volunteers, they always took off their hats and bowed to express their sincerest gratitude. In August 1997, Antingren Rinpoche, a venerable Tibetan monk, was
invited from Chengduo County to Taiwan to lecture on Buddhism. At the
request of the residents of Chengduo County, he paid a visit to Master
Cheng Yen to convey their thanks to her. "We are all moved by the
great love of Tzu Chi that transcends all borders." Abiding by the
bodhisattvas' spirit of "going to the needy despite all
difficulties," Tzu Chi volunteers completed the most difficult
mission by delivering relief supplies to Qinghai, which has the harshest
living conditions in the world. This mission to Qinghai made history for
Tzu Chi relief efforts in mainland China.
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people depended for their livelihood were frozen or starved to death.
Even the yaks, which can endure severe cold and hunger, were no
exception. Sixty thousand Tibetan people were in danger of running out
of food. After evaluating the situation there, Tzu Chi decided to extend
a helping hand.
