Written by Jennifer Chien
Translated by Diana Chang
Edited by Adriana DiBenedetto
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
San Dimas, CA, April 8, 2024— Tzu Chi’s Taiwan Earthquake fundraiser for its ongoing earthquake relief has now reached $500k in matching funds. Help strengthen this response further as affected residents face the long road to recovery.
At 7:58 AM on April 3, 2024, Taiwan time, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurred 25 kilometers off Taiwan’s east coast near Hualien, the home of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation’s global headquarters. Although the Jing Si Abode campus was affected by the earthquake, incurring scattered damages, staff and residents are safe; thus, disaster relief work has proceeded normally.
The Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation set up an Earthquake Disaster Response Center outside the main hall of the Jing Si Abode within half an hour after the earthquake struck. Dharma Master Cheng Yen, Tzu Chi’s founder, took charge of the relief mission, aiming to assess the situation in detail and instruct Tzu Chi volunteers to launch immediate disaster relief efforts. Within minutes, the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation mobilized its disaster relief response by 8:22 AM. The Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, too, activated its emergency response.
The Tzu Chi Foundation is additionally collaborating with disaster relief agencies in the affected areas. Based on on-the-ground info, Tzu Chi immediately began gathering disaster relief supplies. These include eco-blankets, temporary beds and partitions for shelters, tents, drinking water, energy drinks, hot meals, emergency financial assistance, and more.
