Attachment 1:

DDM Relief Team Set Off for Sichuan for Humanitarian Assistances & Peace

A deadly earthquake that struck Sichuan Province of China in the morning of 12 May 2008 (US EST) has left tens of thousands deads and severe causalities.

For extending Buddhist compassion and exercising the spirit of Bodhisattva, the relief team was soon successfully round up by the Dharma Drum Social Welfare and Charity Foundation on 13 May and is ready to set off for earthquake-hit regions of Sichuan via Hong Kong on the morning of 15 May.        

Besides giving material support, the Vice About President, Venerable Guo Pin, will on behalf of Venerable Master Sheng Yen and the Abbot President, Venerable Guo Dong, join the team for spiritual counseling of victims' vexed minds. 

The relief team carried basic necessities worth NT$12 million donated by the Ruentex Group and DDM, including tents, instant noodles, medication and drinking water, in the hope of soon assisting the victims back to normal track in life. 

Venerable Master Sheng Yen and Venerable Guo Dong expressed their warmest cares to the victims and directed the Foundation to offer humanitarian assistances in Sichuan as much as possible for compassion.

附件 1

即日起接受各界捐款  僧團法師並將親往災區關懷撫慰災民

中國大陸四川省12日下午發生強震，地震達到芮氏規模7.8，地震災情已經造成近萬人喪生，預計死亡人數還會繼續攀升。遭逢強震，四川災情慘重。聖嚴法師曾說：「受苦受難是大菩薩、救苦救難是菩薩。」法鼓山於第一時間即啟動緊急救援機制組成前進指揮所，將以法鼓山的救災經驗提供災區身、心、靈重建的相關援助。

法鼓山除將先捐助由潤泰集團及法鼓山信眾捐贈的一仟二百萬元物資外，並已成立賑災醫療團，期能儘速在災區環境許可之下趕赴災區進行必要援救，此外也將儘快透過潤泰集團及各相關管道協助，將災民所需物資及醫療用品運送至災區。

法鼓山創辦人聖嚴法師聞此災難除表達熱切關懷外，更與方丈和尚果東法師在第一時間慈悲指示，擇定於本週六(5/17)下午三點在北投農禪寺舉辦三時繫念法會為罹難往生者超度並為傷者消災祈福，此外法鼓山全省各分院亦將於分院法會中設立超薦及消災牌位。

而日前組團出發前往緬甸賑災的法鼓山慈善基金會，也在5/13組成四川賑災前進指揮所，並完成招募第一批賑災義工，訂於5/15日出發前往當地了解各項需求，而法鼓山副主持果品法師亦將代表法鼓山創辦人聖嚴法師及方丈和尚果東法師率同僧團法師隨此團隊前往當地關懷撫慰災民，協助災民心靈重建。預計第一階段將募集完成災區所需緊急需求外，第二階段亦將依循台灣921的各項災後重建安心工程經驗，期能持續為災區提供最適切的關懷與服務。

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Attachment 2:

DDM Relief Team To Provide Humanitarian Assistance To Cyclone Victims in Byanmar

Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar (aka Burma) on 3 May, 2008. Tens of thousands of people have lost their lives and hundreds of thousands are now left homeless. It is the worst natural disaster to hit the country since the 2004 tsunami. International humanitarian relief organizations are ready to head to Myanmar to provide basic living necessities to those affected by this devastating cyclone.

Dharma Drum Social Welfare and Charity Foundation was quick to react and has organized for a relief team to set off for cyclone affected regions on 11 May. Extending Buddhist's compassion for the world, the Foundation will donate approximately two tons of basic necessities including blankets, drinking water, medication, raincoats, lights and tents.

附件 2

  五月初位於亞洲中南半島的緬甸境內遭受熱帶氣旋納吉斯重創，國際社會悲觀估計約有超過十萬人不幸喪生，災情慘重更甚於南亞海嘯。國際社會人道救援組織已於近日內，陸續將救援物資運往緬甸災區救援，而法鼓山慈善基金會也於五月十一日派員運送帳棚、毛毯及飲水等約近2公噸的救災物資前往緬甸災區救援。