Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation

The Tzu Chi Foundation has been working in Haiti since 1998, helping the poorest country in the Americas and one of the poorest in the world. The Republic of Haiti is an island nation in the Caribbean, Central America. It occupies the western half of the island of Hispaniola; the eastern half is the Dominican Republic. It has a population of 10 million people, with a nominal GDP last year of US$7.018 billion and a GDP capita of US$790, about US$2 a day. The richest one per cent own nearly half the country’s wealth; a majority of people live on less than US$2 a day. Two thirds of the population work in agriculture, with coffee beans the most important crop, for export. For food, the country mainly depends on imports.

The foundation’s involvement in Haiti began in 1998, when Hurricane Georges swept across the Caribbean. It launched a drive to collect clothing for the island; it donated four containers full of clothes, which were distributed from March 1, 1999. Later aid missions were undertaken by volunteers from the Dominican Republican, usually with transnational aid agencies. In November 2008, the foundation’s medical and educational missions helped nurses from 14 countries, including Haiti, who came to Hualien for a month of training, including a tour of the foundation’s main hospital in the town.

In May 2004, hurricanes again hit the island, causing serious damage to the districts on the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Volunteers from the Dominican Republic visited the Haitian towns of Jimani, Independencia and distributed more than 400 pack of relief goods, including milk, drinking water, bread, toilet paper, biscuits, clothing and shoes to the victims. In October that year, the island was hit by Hurricane Jeanne. The Tzu Chi chapter in Orlando, Floria and other charity organizations jointly held fund-raising activities to buy materials for the victims; the volunteers helped in the packing of these materials.

In April 2008, the prices of food and gasoline in Haiti soared because of the global food crisis. As people could no longer afford their normal food, they began to eat mud cakes; these were made from the mud of the central highland region, mixed with salt and oil and dried in the sun. Food riots broke out, making headline news around the world. The misery of the people was compounded by four hurricanes which struck the island from mid-August to early September. Stephen Huang, chief superintendent of Tzu Chi volunteers around the world, led a team from the U.S. and Saint Martin to Haiti to visit the disaster zone for three days. They were received by President Rene Preval. As a result, the foundation’s U.S. chapter organized in November a project "Humanitarian Aid to Haiti". In January 2009, it distributed the items purchased through the project to 3,343 families, with the assistance of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force and the Overseas Engineering & Construction Co. Master Cheng Yen hopes that these efforts will result in the seeds of love being planted in the soil of Haiti.

An earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale rocked the Republic of Haiti on the 12th of January 2010. Tzu Chi Foundation starts the relief work, Help Haiti with Love. The immediate relief operation in Haiti focuses on the following areas: 1) Relief goods distribution; 2) Medical and emotional assistance; 3) Relief work program (food for work program). Foundation will continue the mid- and long-term relief.

Summary:

Time	Event
1998.10	Tzu Chi Foundation launched clothing drive movement, donated 60 cargos of clothing; 4 were sent to Haiti, and a distribution soon followed on March 1st 1999.
2004.05	Caribbean were pummeled by hurricanes, bringing severe disasters to the adjacent border of Dominican Rep. and Haiti. Tzu Chi volunteers of Dominican Rep. chapter visited Jimani, Independencia for distribution, bringing approximately 400 packs of relief goods.
2004.10	Hurricane Jeanne devastated the poorest nation of Caribbean, Haiti. Orlando Commissioner and many other charity organizations launched a joint fund and material raising effort. U.S. Tzu Chi volunteers aided in the packing of these materials.
2008.11	Nursing personnel from 14 countries, including Haiti, arrived in Taiwan for a month of training program. Eastern Region was hosted and planned by Tzu Chi College of Technology, and arranged to tour in Hualien Tzu Chi General Hospital.
2008.11	From mid August to early September, Haiti was pummeled by four hurricanes consecutively, inflicting severe damage. Stephen Huang, chief superintendent of global Tzu Chi volunteers, led Tzu Chi volunteers from U.S. and St. Martin to Haiti for a three-day visit of disaster zones. They were received by President Préval of Haiti.
2009.01	Tzu Chi Foundation U.S.A organized “Humanitarian Aid to Haiti”, and with the assistance of United Nation Peacekeeping Force and OECC (Overseas Engineering & Construction Co.), successfully accomplished the material distribution for 3,343 families.
2010.01~now	An earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale rocked the Republic of Haiti on the 12th of January 2010. Tzu Chi Foundation starts the relief work, Help Haiti with Love.