On Friday morning December 22, 2006, after several days of heavy rain, there was extensive flooding in many areas around North Sumatra. Langkat District was the most severely affected area. The flash floods had also caused severe devastation in some parts of Aceh, especially Kuala Simpang. At that time, water levels had climbed 1 to 3 meters high and were rapidly submerging many villages. Most of the houses had collapsed and the fields were buried in mud.

North Sumatra

On Saturday afternoon, we contacted the local Red Cross to get more information on the flood situation and a list of needed items. We immediately purchased powdered milk and food for infants, instant milk for children, instant noodles, green beans, sugar, biscuits, soap and medicines, and packed them with leaflets explaining Master’s teachings.

The next day, December 24, a team of our fellow initiates from Medan traveled about four hours to Besitang, one area which had been very hard hit, to distribute the relief items. When we arrived, the water levels were still high and as a result our vehicle carrying the relief items had engine-trouble and jammed. However with the help of the local people, and thanks to Master’s blessings, the truck finally moved again and we were able to reach the nearby shelter to do the distribution.

At one local shelter, men from the Indonesian army kindly guided us to other local shelters where the victims were still in great need of relief items. Upon arriving at the destination, we immediately unloaded the items with the help of the army. When the victims saw us coming, their faces lit up and eyes sparkled. They were overjoyed to receive the food and the mothers were really grateful for the baby milk and food for their children. One lady even cried when receiving the relief items. She told a sister initiate that we were the first group to distribute the relief items personally into the hands of victims. The Alternative Living flyers were given along with the other items. .

On December 26, our fellow practitioners traveled again to the flood area in Besitang. There they met one of the local village chiefs who kindly guided them to the villages alongside the river to distribute the relief items and Alternative Living flyers to the victims.

Kuala Simpang, Aceh Tamiang District

After contacting the local Red Cross, we learned that the road to Kuala Simpang, Aceh Tamiang District had been completely closed because of the flood. While waiting for it to reopen, some initiates went to buy the relief items that included medicines, powdered milk and food for infants, instant milk for children, instant noodles, green beans, sugar, biscuits, bottled mineral water, juice and daily necessities such as soap and underwear.

On December 29, the road was cleared and we entered Kuala Simpang with five truck loads of relief items. The local village chief gave us a list of victims and the locations that had not yet received any help. Thanks to God’s arrangement, we had a large hall to stay in and also to store and pack the relief items. Our relief team divided into three groups; the first did the packing and the other two did the distribution. With the help of several local people, about 4500 packages of relief items were handed out along with the Alternative Living flyers to flood victims. They were touched and overjoyed, as we were the first group who actually brought and gave the items personally to them. It took two days and although some flood devastated areas were difficult to access due to the narrow, bumpy roads, with Master’s guidance and blessing everything was carried out smoothly and successfully.

 

Expenditures by The Supreme Master Ching Hai and Her International Association for Aid to Flood Victims in Langkat District, North Sumatra, and Aceh Tamiang, Indonesia

 

Description	Amount (Indonesian Rupiah)	Receipt No.
Food (rice, water, juice, biscuits, green beans, milk)	101,594,590	A1~9
Daily necessities (soap, underwear, etc.)	12,631,000	B1~3
Medicines	8,940,500	C1~4
Miscellaneous (transportation, food for working team, plastic for packing relief items, fuel, stationery, etc.)	12,913,417	D1~4
Total	IDR 136,079,507 (US$14,954)

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