On November 1, Soka Gakkai Japan made a donation of US$ 50,000 to the Thai government in support of relief efforts. Soka Gakkai General Director Masaaki Masaki and Kenji Yoshigo, Executive Director of International Affairs, visited the Royal Thai Embassy for this purpose and met with Ambassador Virasakdi Futrakul.
SGI-Thailand and its members have donated relief supplies worth over 2 million Thai baht (US$ 64,900) including foodstuffs, flashlights and medicines. These have been packed into relief supply packages, containing instant noodles, rice, milk, canned fish and other essentials. Youth members have delivered the packages to hundreds of affected families in Nakhon Sawan, Lopburi and Ayutthaya from distribution centers in Bangkok and central Thailand, using trucks and boats.
Mr. Phuriphak Phuchongkawarin, youth leader of SGI-Thailand, comments, "Many hundreds of youth members have been exerting themselves to help victims of the flooding. This is our first experience of such large-scale relief efforts. It is at times like these that we can really put into practice the Buddhist spirit of dedicating ourselves for the sake of others."
On October 13, SGI-Thailand also donated 150 relief supply packages, as well as 1,000 kg of rice, 1,500 bottles of water and 2,000 packs of instant noodles, to the Thai Ministry of Culture for distribution to affected areas.
SGI-Thailand is also poised to help with clean-up efforts after the water has receded.
The Soka Gakkai International (SGI) Buddhist association has 12 million members around the world. Its constituent organizations have a long track record of humanitarian relief activities in response to natural disasters.
Source: Soka Gakkai International
Contact:
Joan Anderson
Office of Public Information
Soka Gakkai International
Tel: +81-80-5957-4711
Fax: +81-3-5360-9885
E-mail: janderson[at]sgi.gr.jp
www.sgi.org
AsiaNet 47063
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