In solidarity with the people of Sierra Leone, the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation volunteers and staff from Taiwan, United States, France, and Spain arrived in Sierra Leone on September 16, 2017. The visiting team is in Sierra Leone to boost its ongoing hot meal program for flood survivors, assess long-term needs and submit report to Dharma Master Cheng Yen and Tzu Chi Taiwan to develop sustainable relief support for survivors. The Tzu Chi volunteers are very excited to be in Sierra Leone and happy to provide support to those in need.

The Buddhist Tzu Chi Compassion Relief Foundation, which has been active in providing humanitarian support to vulnerable Sierra Leoneans since the outbreak of the 2014 Ebola virus in West Africa, responded with compassionate care to survivors of the August 14 deadly flooding and landslide that left hundreds of people dead and missing.

On August 14, 2017, the capital city of Sierra Leone, Freetown, suffered a flooding and mudslide, causing a part of Mount Sugarloaf, a mountain in the suburban district of Regent to collapse. The disaster is considered to have affected the Regent district most, with another twelve settlements in the two districts of Western Area Rural and Western Area Urban.

Since 2016, Tzu Chi Indonesia has been collaborating with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Church World Service (CWS) to assist international refugees.

While Muslims worldwide celebrated Eid al-Fitr, Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation in Indonesia brought love and care to refugees in five different regions of Jakarta. A total of 86 refugees received blessings and gifts from Tzu Chi, which included Jing Si instant noodles, beverages and rice.

In order to provide humanitarian action for refugees in Thailand, Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation held monthly free medical clinic for them in Bangkok. In addition to medical services, volunteers also provided a venue for refugees to learn job skills. Many hope this training will improve the living condition of refugees and give them the opportunity to become self-sufficient.

To prepare for the monthly free clinic for refugees in Bangkok, Tzu Chi volunteers and TIMA members came in the early morning to decorate the venue.