The world of Tzu Chi Jan-Feb 2022 (Vol.139)

2022 • 02 06 A s Malaysia ushered in the Northeast monsoon season last December, several parts of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, as well as the east coast, were hit by incessant rain and thunderstorms. The nation went into a state of pandemonium as rising water levels wrecked not just roads and houses, but most regrettably, lives too. In the early morning of December 18, Klang Tzu Chi volunteers urgently set up and mobilized a flood relief team. The recycling centre was a buzz of activities with volunteers cooking hot meals and then delivering them to affected flood victims. Meanwhile, some volunteers were helping to evacuate flood victims to safe areas in their four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles. Faced with rising waters, these victims could only run, leaving no time to grab necessities. Tzu Chi volunteers put up a concerted effort by distributing blankets, biscuits and towels. Their priority was to keep the panic-stricken individuals warm and well. Typically, the end-of-year monsoon floods are mostly seasonal and thus predictable. However, the December floods in Selangor were unprecedented. The affected areas included 8 states, spanning pecial Feature