Devastated Taiwan appeals for international aid
Devastated Taiwan appeals for international aid
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) revealed on Thursday that Taiwan will request international aid for disaster relief efforts, following the devastating effects of Typhoon Morakot. The ministry had been criticized for delaying aid but James Chang, the deputy spokesman for MOFA, said the ministry was merely determining the level of aid needed before approaching the international community.
Chang reported that MOFA is keeping in contact with the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and is also corresponding with the Central Disaster Emergency Operation Center. Singapore has already pledged 200,000 US dollars to relief efforts in addition to sending a shipment of food and medical supplies.
Typhoon Morakot struck the Philippines, Taiwan and China over the weekend and left at least 103 people dead. The storm drowned the Philippines in 80 inches of water where it claimed 22 lives, before moving onto China where 1.5 million people were evacuated and some 10,000 homes were destroyed. Direct economic losses have been estimated at 1.4 billion US dollars by the Civil Affairs Ministry.
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