In Kuala Lumpur, distressed and angry relatives and friends remain on high alert for news of missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. NBC News reports that some are being counseled and comforted by Buddhist volunteers from the Tzu Chi Foundation.
A vigil for the missing passengers of MH370
In a brief report, Paul Goldman wrote for NBC that: “About 10 volunteers from the Taiwan-based organization are offering round-the-clock counseling for relatives who have spent two agonizing weeks hoping for a breakthrough in the hunt for the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777.”
“They are very, very frustrated because they are not sure where their families are,” stated Sio Kee Homg, one of the volunteers from Tzu Chi.
Every new piece of information from the government or the press, even if contradictory, triggers fresh tears and emotions, he said. This is the case even for those who have reluctantly accepted that their loved ones’ survival is unlikely.
”We hug them, we give them a tissue when they cry, we are physically there to listen to their frustration. We try to talk about something that is more positive… Of course there are family members that are preparing for the worst. They are sort of becoming very calm when they hear new developments. I think that, while they are preparing for the worst, they are still praying hard and still hopeful that their family members are still alive.”