Two Taiwanese Buddhist charities announced on Monday that they had separately sent relief supplies to Myanmar to aid the country following the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck in late March.
Fo Guang Shan Temple said in a press release that its rescue team, made up of members of the Fo Guang Shan Malaysia Rescue Team and Sin Chew Daily Foundation, arrived in Mandalay on Friday with 3.3 tons of emergency relief supplies.
The temple’s abbot, Venerable Xin Bao, led the team in delivering food, digging tools and medical kits to the hard-hit areas, according to the organization’s statement.
Meanwhile, the Tzu Chi Foundation said in a separate statement released on Monday that it had sent 80 beds, 690 blankets and other relief supplies to Myanmar.
Tzu Chi volunteer Chen Qinghua confirmed that the supplies and food such as rice and noodles were delivered by air.
The Myanmar government says the 8.2-magnitude earthquake that struck the Southeast Asian country on March 28 has killed at least 3,400 people, left 214 missing and injured more than 4,600.
Both Fo Guang Shan Temple and Tzu Chi Foundation have pledged continued support.
Myanmar authorities have approved international relief shipments, and relief efforts are expected to continue through Nay Pyi Taw International Airport.
