The World Of Tzu Chi March 2025 (Vol.153)

29 Taiwan The United States Indonesia On January 7, 2025, one of themost destructivewildfires inCalifornia’s history broke out in Los Angeles. Tzu Chi volunteers took part in relief efforts at the Wildfire Resource Hub and three FEMA Disaster Recovery Centres, assisting survivors with aid registration, while a mobile eye clinic served 183 people. From January 18 to February 23, Tzu Chi distributed cash cards, blankets, cleaning supplies, clothing, food packages, and protective gear to 4,339 affected households. • Following the January 21 earthquake in Dapu, Chiayi, Tzu Chi volunteers conducted nearly 4,000 home visits from January 22 to 27, 2025, distributing blessing packs to affected households and emergency funds to 240 families. They also provided 40,000 hot meals and assisted in setting up government shelters by supplying 497 folding beds and 193 privacy cubicles. Commencing February 10, expert volunteers from across Taiwan helped repair homes in two neighbourhoods in Nanxi District, Tainan. • On February 13, 2025, a gas explosion occurred at the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store in Xitun District, Taichung City, killing four people and injuring 34. As the weather was cold and rainy, volunteers set up a care centre, providing hot ginger tea, bottled water, bread, sweet porridge, and rice dumplings to emergency responders. They also visited hospitals to comfort the injured and their families. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami, Tzu Chi Indonesia, in collaboration with the Iskandar Muda Military Regional Command, conducted a free clinic on December 14 and 15. 2024, at a military hospital in Kuta Alam, Banda Aceh. During the event, 114 surgeries were performed, including cataract, hernia, cleft lip, and tumour treatments. TZU CHI 153