| Esther Wu: In times of crisis, the only race is human 02/01/2001 By / The Dallas Morning News It's not always about race.
When news of the recent earthquakes in El Salvador and India broke, it was no surprise that volunteers quickly came forward to offer aid.
What may surprise some is who stepped up to help.
Tsing Tunhua, an acupuncturist from Arlington, has just returned from El Salvador, where he spent five days dispensing food, medicine and money to victims of the Jan. 13 earthquake that killed at least 683 people. He goes back Friday, this time as U.S. coordinator for international relief workers for Tzu Chi, a Taiwan-based Buddhist organization. The Taiwan-born doctor, who speaks little English, had never been to El Salvador before. He doesn't even speak the language.
But he joins other members of Tzu Chi to help those in need. They go on their own time and pay their own travel expenses.
"All the money we collect goes directly to help the people," explained Mr. Tsing as his daughter translated.
Volunteers' strength
"One of the worst moments in El Salvador was when we saw a man standing on a pile of rubble, crying out 'help me, help me.' Our interpreter told us his daughter was buried under the rocks," Mr. Tsing said. "It was really very sad. But the volunteers must not lose emotions. They must distance themselves in order to carry out their work. We saw many bodies there. It was difficult to console the living who mourn their dead."
Within hours of the Jan. 26 earthquake in India, where the death toll is expected to reach 25,000, the India Association of North Texas mobilized its relief effort, setting up a collection site at its Richardson offices.
The first person who handed over a check was not Indian nor did he have any ties to the Indian-American communities.
"He told us he had worked with many people who were from India. He said he felt their pain and wanted to help," said Taiyab A. Kundawala, president of the association.
That $1,000 check helped kick off a fund-raising campaign that brought in about $240,000 in three days.
The association, which is acting as the umbrella group for more than 40 local Indian-American organizations, is hoping to raise $1 million by the end of February.
Collection boxes will be set up at Indian-owned businesses, some Wal-Marts and Home Depots. Phone banks have been set up at the India Association of North Texas, and local Indian radio stations have been holding marathon fund-raising campaigns.
Working the phones
Mahesh Shah and Deepali Thakore are two of the many volunteers working the phones. Both attended school in Ahmedabad, one of the towns hardest hit by the earthquake.
They say money has been coming in from throughout the United States, thanks to cable radio programs.
"People are calling saying they heard about the earthquake and they want to help," Mr. Shah said. "Many are not Indian."
"This is not so unusual," said, Sudhir Parikh, chairman of the board of trustees for the association. "A local church has called and said they wanted to help. They are donating 3,000 blankets. A group in Fort Worth is giving us 500 bedsheets.
"In times of need, people help people," Mr. Parikh said.
Perhaps, then, it is a matter of race – the human race.
"Why do I go?" Mr. Tsing asked. "I go because people need help. It doesn't matter if they are Chinese or not Chinese. We all breathe the same air. When we are cut, our blood is the same color."
Esther Wu can be reached at P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, TX 75265.
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