Khanh Hoa: Field kitchen warms the hearts of people in flood-hit areas

In recent days, field kitchens in Khanh Hoa province have been continuously burning, preparing thousands of meals for people in flooded areas.

The atmosphere of the field kitchen located at Nha Trang University. By: HIEU GIANG

On the morning of November 24, thousands of hot meals at Nha Trang University (North Nha Trang ward) were transported to neighboring communes and wards where people are affected by floods.

Comrade Nguyen Phuoc Loc, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City participated in the field kitchen serving people in flood-hit areas at Nha Trang University, November 23.

Since November 23, the Social Charity Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Ho Chi Minh City has simultaneously opened three field kitchens to serve free food to people in flood-affected areas in Khanh Hoa province. In addition to the location at Nha Trang University, there are two locations in Dien Dien commune.

Every day, 3 kitchens provide about 25,000 meals, ensuring nutrition and food safety. The meals are distributed by forces to people in areas heavily affected by the recent floods. At Nha Trang University alone, 15,000 meals were cooked on November 23.

In recent days, many convoys from Ho Chi Minh City have also urgently transported dozens of tons of food, provisions and drinks to Khanh Hoa, ready for cooking and distributing meals.

Mr. Tran Quoc Tuan, an employee of Binh Tay Food Joint Stock Company, said that he transported a large quantity of chicken, pork, rice, vermicelli, noodles, seasoning powder, soy sauce, vegetables, fruits, etc. from Ho Chi Minh City on the evening of November 23, to Bac Nha Trang ward at 1 a.m. on November 24 so that the kitchen could light a fire to cook rice.

Ms. Hoang Thi Loan, a member of the Tuong Nguyen Pagoda Charity Association (HCMC), said that the group has set up field kitchens many times during previous Covid-19 outbreaks and floods in many provinces and cities across the country.

“Everyone in the group has a heart for the people in the flood-affected areas. We love them very much and will try our best to bring hot meals to them during these difficult days,” said Ms. Loan.

To prepare these meals in time for lunch, hundreds of volunteers, including youth volunteers, students, local people, monks, nuns, and Buddhists from Ho Chi Minh City and Khanh Hoa province, started cooking at 3 a.m. the same day. After delivering lunch, they hurriedly prepared for dinner, and only took a break at 10 p.m.

Most Venerable Thich Thanh Phong, Vice Chairman of the Executive Council, Permanent Deputy of the Executive Committee and Head of the Social Charity Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Ho Chi Minh City, said that the rice kitchen serving people will be maintained until the situation stabilizes.

The program is coordinated and supported by the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City and Khanh Hoa Province. According to the assignment, at the field kitchens, monks, nuns and Buddhists are responsible for cooking rice; local government forces and the army are responsible for transporting meals to people in flooded areas.

Volunteers, including the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Volunteer Force, continuously take turns cooking a full range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Volunteers help cut vegetables

Local people and Ho Chi Minh City Youth Volunteer Force urgently prepare rice

Mr. Pham Minh Tuan (residing in Binh Phu ward, Ho Chi Minh City), an office worker, has been with the group to Khanh Hoa province for 2 days now. Although his work has been interrupted and cooking is tiring, he has no time to be bored. "We have a very high spirit, with the goal of not letting anyone go hungry. Now that the people of Central Vietnam are in need, we continue to try."

Thousands of hot meals were promptly delivered to people in flooded areas.

Ms. Nguyen Thuy Tien (resident of Dien Dien commune) said that this was the first time she had witnessed a flood like this. The water rose so quickly that the whole family had no time to react, and all their belongings were submerged in floodwater. For the past few days, life has been turned upside down, and the family of four has only eaten instant noodles and bread. Now that they have received a meal of gratitude, the family is extremely moved.

HIEU GIANG - TIEN THANG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/khanh-hoa-bep-an-da-chien-lam-am-long-nguoi-dan-vung-lu-post825194.html