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Tzu Chi Establishes an Emergency Coordination Center and Initiates a Nationwide Fundraising Campaign on January 16 and 17

Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, 14 Jan 2010

San Dimas, CA (USA) -- The 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12 has caused catastrophic damages and casualties in the country, especially in the country's capital, Port-au-Prince.

Tzu Chi USA headquarters immediately established an emergency coordination center to respond to the needs in Haiti. On January 13, meetings were held with Tzu Chi global headquarters, Tzu Chi USA's regional directors throughout the nation, as well as other humanitarian organizations.

Tzu Chi global headquarters has initiated a global fundraising campaign to deliver the love from people around the globe to the affected people in Haiti. To kick off the global fundraising campaign, Tzu Chi volunteers in the US will hold a nationwide street fundraiser on January 16 and 17.

Tzu Chi's relief team, including volunteers and doctors from the US and the Dominican Republic, is currently preparing to provide relief. Tzu Chi USA and global headquarters are preparing relief aid and medical supplies to be delivered to Haiti when possible. Currently, the situation in Haiti is unclear, and the international airport in Port-au-Prince is only open to urban rescue teams. Tzu Chi and other humanitarian organizations are in the process of investigating other routes into the country in order to provide aid.

Tzu Chi has previously provided aid to Haiti in 1999, 2004 and 2009. In January 2009, Tzu Chi relief team traveled to Haiti to provide relief to Haiti after the country was struck by various hurricanes in 2008. Tzu Chi volunteers from the US, Dominican Republic and St. Martin provided supplies such as rice, corn powder, cooking oil, sugar, salt, instant noodles, tarp, eco-friendly blankets, plastic cloths, buckets (for food storage purpose), vitamins, dental kits and a set of portable dental equipment, benefiting 3,343 households in poverty areas in Port-au-Prince and Cite Soleil. There were also long-term plans for other charitable and medical assistance.

Tzu Chi will continue to provide updates on its relief efforts. Please pray and deliver our kind thoughts to the people in Haiti! Please make a donation and deliver our love to the people in Haiti! Any amount will go a long way to help the suffering people in Haiti! Together, let us help Haiti with our love!

To make a donation or for more information, please visit www.us.tzuchi.org , or call 1-888-989-8244 , or send your check to 1100 S. Valley Center Ave., San Dimas, CA 91773. (your donation is tax deductible in the USA!)

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