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New heavy rain claims lives in China. Floods and landslides caused by more torrential rains
since Monday, June 13, have claimed yet more lives and left seven others missing in central
and southern regions as of Wednesday. The Central Meteorological Station has raised
the warning level from code blue to yellow, with some 88,000 residents forced to flee
their homes in Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, and Guizhou provinces. Around 53,000
people had been displaced from Hubei’s hard-hit Xianning city alone as of late Tuesday. Experts
have alerted related departments to be prepared for more landslides and mud-rock flows. The
Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs and National Disaster Reduction Commission dispatched work
teams for relief operations while also allocating US$5.4 million in relief funds for Guizhou
Province as they sent 5,000 tents and 40,000 quilts to victims in Guizhou and Hunan.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Civil Affairs allocated US$20
million for evacuation and reconstruction endeavors in central Hubei and Hunan provinces
on Wednesday, where record rainfall of up to 150 millimeters had been recorded on Tuesday.
The latest deaths bring the toll fatalities and missing to more than 170 since the rains
began over a week ago. Rescue teams were sent to all affected areas and relief supply stations
have also been set up in 11 provinces and seven cities. With precipitation that followed
prolonged drought along the Yangtze River, some 223,000 residents still unfortunately
lack clean drinking water.
With all her love and sorrowful prayers, Supreme Master Ching Hai asked that our nearby Association
members please consult with local officials on any required assistance, and to go if possible
to help the most vulnerable. She added that funds for emergency needs would be available.
Our appreciation, Chinese officials and personnel, as we also thank Supreme Master Ching Hai
for her wholehearted concern. We pray for the protection of the storm-stricken people
and that such weather extremities may be alleviated through our kinder care of all fellow inhabitants
of the Earth�