The world of Tzu Chi Nov-Dec 2021 (Vol.138)

2021 • 12 26 ovid-19 Relief Thanks to a kind thought Having lost his job and income, Myanmarese refugee Abdullah and his family of eight drank water for breakfast and relied on foods given by their friends for subsistence. Source: Tan Kim Hion Compiled by Yap Chai Hoon Translated by Lee Hui Yieng Photo courtesy of Lee Swee Foong “I used to work at a fruit stall, but since night markets are not allowed to operate, I have not had any income for four months now. I have also not paid rental and utility bills for four months. My family drinks only plain water for breakfast, and my two youngest children are fed on warm water with sugar...” Over the phone, Myanmarese refugee Abdullah confided his plight to volunteer Lee Swee Foong. As the head of the family, he had his mother, wife and five children aged between nine months and twelve years old under his wing. They relied on foods provided by their friends for subsistence, and had only one meal a day. When they were hungry, they could only drink water to fill their stomachs. Moreover, without money for baby milk powder, his 9- and 18-month-old children were fed on warm water with sugar. Their plight was lifted when Swee Foong delivered to them milk powder and cash vouchers on September 2. Abdullah was surprised seeing the milk powder and thanked Swee Foong profusely. However, Swee Foong called it her blessing to be able to do something, albeit little, for the refugees amidst this pandemic. She said, “It is the volunteer spirit to do what is right and give without expecting anything in return.” When Abdullah’s children saw him returning home with food and daily necessities he bought with the cash vouchers, they flocked over happily. Abdullah thanked Swee Foong for sending the timely relief aid, which would enable his young children to have milk in the next two months and his family to have food on the table. With the volunteer’s encouragement, Abdullah is actively looking for a job in the hope that he could provide for his family independently. With the relief aid, Abdullah and his family will not go hungry for the time being.