Taiwan boosts Turkiye earthquake relief aid

2023/02/14

Taiwan is stepping up humanitarian relief and rescue operations to assist Turkiye following the recent magnitude 7.8 earthquake, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Feb. 9.
 
Accounts to accept donations from the people of Taiwan were opened by the MOFA in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Welfare Feb. 7, the MOFA said. The amount had already topped NT$200 million (US$6.62 million) by Feb. 10, and donations will be accepted until March 6.
 
According to the MOFA, the ministry shared its experience launching similar donation drives with Turkiye soon after the earthquake and is assisting the Turkish Trade Office in Taipei in assessing and planning other ways to collect donations.
 
These moves followed the government’s donation of US$2 million to Turkiye Feb. 7, and the decision to dispatch two search and rescue teams—one with 40 members, three dogs and 6.6 tons of equipment and the other with 90 members, two dogs and over six tons of equipment and life detectors—who were also sent on Feb. 6 and 7.
 
The current priority of Taiwan’s relief and rescue efforts is to coordinate with the Turkish government’s overall rescue plan, the MOFA said, adding that the ministry and its Taipei Economic and Cultural Mission in Ankara are maintaining close contact with TTO and the Turkish government to ensure that assistance is tailored to meet the most urgent needs in Turkiye’s affected areas.
 
In addition, the government is concerned about the devastation caused by the earthquake in Syria. The Taiwan-Reyhanli Centre for World Citizens is assisting relief efforts, and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Amman, Jordan, has been instructed to explore feasible ways to help affected people in Syria, the MOFA said, adding that Taiwan’s aid to Turkiye will also be extended to Syrian refugees at Turkiye’s border.


Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)