
The impact of the typhoon was heaviest in Leyte province, where the cities of Tacloban, Omroc and Tunga were hit by winds exceeding 350 kilometers per hour. The Tunga Central School was severely damaged: of its 36 classrooms, 28 became unusable and all 1,080 students had to stop class. The children of its primary school had to come in with umbrellas, to protect themselves from the rain and the sun.

At three o’clock in the afternoon, under a cloudless sky, volunteers put into place the first classroom on the green earth. They then cleaned it. Not far away, 60 students were singing to show the joy in their hearts. They walked in and entered the classroom, carrying with them the tables which they had wiped clean.

In addition to education, the volunteers have provided three water-filtering machines. They have been installed at Leyte Progressive High School, Saint Nunu Parish Church and Sampaguita Plaza; each day they can provide 15 tons of drinking water. The typhoon victims have put up posters expressing their thanks to Tzu Chi.
The foundation is also providing specialist medical care. Doctors from Tzu Chi hospitals and the members of Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) are taking turns to conduct free clinics. Before each opens, there is a long queue of patients. Some have flu and external wounds and others require emergency treatment.

Several days ago, a one-year-old baby Jhyra, was suffering from a spasm. A TIMA doctor gave her immediate attention and now her condition has stabilized. Her mother said: “Master Cheng Yen, I want to express my deepest gratitude for helping our family. You are providing so much help to us. Thank you.”
Love is being spread all over Tacloban through education and medical care.
Report by Chen Jing-wen, Song Xiang-meng, Lin Guo-xin and Wu Bo-xun
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