Taiwan Earthquake Relief in Hualien

National Headquarters  |  February 6, 2018

On February 6th, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Hualien, Taiwan, where our global headquarters are located. Our volunteers on the ground immediately responded to the call to action. Below are our updates.

Through the rubble, rain, and cold, see the devastating conditions of earthquake stricken Hualien, Taiwan for yourself, and see the positive impact Tzu Chi volunteers are making.

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There is so much to do, and every bit counts.


February 13th – 28th, 2018

During the rest of February, our volunteers visited the homes of Hualien residents who have been struggling since the earthquake.

With open arms and hearts, they brought aid and comfort to those with missing family members, destroyed homes, and shaken spirits, while offering blessings and best wishes for prosperity and good fortune in the approaching Chinese New Year.

We will now begin planning and providing long term aid focused on helping those impacted by the earthquake to rebuild.

 


 

February 12th, 2018

With relief efforts ongoing, we feel so blessed with how much our hardworking volunteers in Taiwan have been able to accomplish since the earthquake in Hualien struck over a week ago.

As of February 12th, there have been 16,508 hot meals prepared and distributed by our volunteers throughout the city to hungry residents who no longer have access to their homes to cook; 1,800 blankets to those who are braving the cold of winter; 744 foldable beds for those in tents and temporary shelters; and 239 personal care supply kits that include Tzu Chi’s own handcrafted and healthy snacks. What’s more, 174 households have received emergency financial aid- totaling over $1.25 million– to spend on their most immediate personal and family needs, and over 1,200 households have been personally visited for assessment and for comfort by our volunteers.

We are so proud of our volunteers. They’ve put in so much elbow grease to be able to lift the people of Taiwan with love. We will continue to support them as they give more and do more in the weeks to come.


February 10th – 11th, 2018

In Mexico, local Tzu Chi volunteers begin street fundraising for our Taiwan Earthquake recovery efforts. As many are just now getting back on their feet after the tragic earthquake in Mexico last September, the people of Mexico keenly know how deeply a disaster affects every aspect of life. They remind us that we are truly all in this together and that no place, including Taiwan, stands alone.


February 9th, 2018

We’re providing our continued care and support by delivering food to shelters and at disaster sites, as well as accompanying residents at hospitals, and offering adults and children alike a compassionate ear. After a disaster, the trauma of experiencing such an event, and witnessing one’s city and home be destroyed before their very eyes can have lasting effects – namely symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Let us continue to keep these individuals in our hearts.


 

February 8th, 2018

Inspired by the courage of first responders, hard work of our volunteers, and support from all over the globe, Tzu Chi USA is proud to announce that from February 7 to 28, all donations to our disaster relief fund will directly benefit Taiwan earthquake relief.  We firmly believe we are all in this together.

Tzu Chi volunteers in Taiwan have accomplished much for residents of Hualien already. They’ve distributed 1,400 blankets, 651 foldable beds, and 5,399 hot meals to people throughout the city. Medical teams have provided care for injured patients, and volunteers have been handing out water, masks, and other essentials to first responders and locals alike. 241 households have even received emergency financial aid to ease the burden of their displacement. On top of all this, emotional comfort and support, provided by our many volunteers and nuns from the Jing Si Abode, could not be more important as people wait to hear about missing family members, look for temporary shelter, or simply ride out the aftershocks together.

It’s taken the effort and dedication of so many; in fact, over 1,000 Tzu Chi volunteers have already pitched in! Our global volunteers are ready in their mission to be the change. When it comes to disaster, we work with the belief that no one fights alone.

Still, much needed supplies and food are being distributed throughout the city. Over 200 cases of supplies, packed and shipped in the care of Tzu Chi volunteers, arrived to Hualien by train. This shipment included 2,000 Tzu Chi blankets and 2,000 Tzu Chi scarves. With great effort, our volunteers will prepare these for immediate distribution.  Let’s pray for hope.


February 7th, 2018

It’s been little over 24 hours since the trembler hit Hualien, Taiwan, but powerful aftershocks have hindered rescue efforts.  That’s why Tzu Chi’s work is more important now than ever.

Repeated aftershocks have kept residents on edge in the midst of the search for loved ones.  Buildings continue to tilt precariously, some toppling completely.  In the meantime, our volunteers in the surrounding region have answered the call to action. 

They have delivered hot meals and warming, ginseng tea throughout the city as well as supplies to shelters and rescue efforts at collapsed sites. Tzu Chi, whose global headquarters is based there, has also opened its doors as a shelter for those who have evacuated their homes.  Volunteers have also set up a disaster response center and are shipping additional blankets from Taiwan’s capital, Taipei. 

At the Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, over 100 of the 272 reported injured were received at the facility.  Doctors, nurses, and other medical staff have been racing to tend to their distressed patients.  Today, we unite in solidarity to help those who suffer.


February 6th, 2018 at 1:00 AM CST (Local Time)

Nuns and volunteers at the Jing Si Abode mobilize to help the people of Hualien.  It’s still winter time, and Tzu Chi volunteers are preparing blankets, hot meals, including rice and bread buns, and hot ginseng tea to warm those who are stranded in the cold.  They’ve set up beds and a temporary shelter, too, for those who have been displaced from their homes and are distributing multipurpose foldable beds for use in safe areas and shelters around the city.  Face masks and water will also be distributed for rescue efforts.


February 6th, 2018 at 11:50 PM CST (Local Time)

A magnitude 6.4 earthquake strikes eastern Taiwan, near the city of Hualien, where the Jing Si Abode, Tzu Chi’s global headquarters, is based.  Buildings across the city collapse, including a historic hotel, while significant shaking rattles parts of the country.

Earthquake activity began 48 hours earlier, from February 4th to February 5th, with a total of 71 earthquakes recorded off the coast of Hualien. This is the strongest so far.

The nuns and residents at the Jing Si Abode have already set up a disaster relief command center, and are preparing hot tea to be distributed to safe areas as rescue efforts are underway.  As aftershocks continue, we pray for the safety of everyone in the affected areas.

Keep all those affected in your heart, and join hands with us as we strive to bring forth a message of hope for those who desperately need it. Donate now.

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