The Executive Yuan yesterday committed US$50 million in aid to tsunami-devastated Asian countries, up from the US$5 million it had previously pledged.
"Hopefully Taiwan's love can reach out to South Asia," Vice Premier Yeh Chu-lan (
PHOTO:HSU HSIA-LIEN, TAIPEI TIMES
Details of the aid have not been finalized, but a foreign ministry official said a possible breakdown could include US$20 million worth of food, US$15 million of medicine and US$15 million in cash.
"It's time for Taiwan to give back, considering the aid we had received from international society following the Sept. 21 earthquake," foreign ministry spokesman Michel Lu (
"This aid volume would make Taiwan one of the top 10 donor countries in the world ... Taiwan people should feel proud for this," Deputy Foreign Minister Michael Kau (
The level of aid would help Taiwan's visibility in the international community, he said.
"As you may know, we are striving to join the World Health Organization. Our relief efforts are expected to be affirmed by the international community," Kau said.
Under pressure from Beijing, the WHO's assembly in May rejected Taiwan's request for a debate on it obtaining observer status at the UN agency.
Taiwan was forced out of the WHO in 1972, a year after it lost its UN seat to China.
Since 1997, Taipei's annual efforts for WHO observer status have failed due to objections from China, which regards Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting unification.
The aid from Taiwan is expected to keep rising as donations collected by the ministry have increased to NT$40 million (US$1.24 million), it said.
Various charitable organizations have also stepped up money raising efforts for tsunami relief, expecting to raise at least US$10 million.
One of Taiwan's leading Buddhist organizations, Tzu Chi, has launched a program to mobilize at least 500,000 followers here and elsewhere in the world to raise money in a campaign called "Let Love Flow into South Asia; Let Sympathy Sooth Painful Suffering."
Two relief teams from Taiwan flew to Indonesia and Thailand earlier last week, taking with them tons of medical and relief supplies.
Health Minister Chen Chien-jen (
Kuo Yao-chi (
At least two Taiwanese were killed and one was missing in the massive waves, officials said.
Tropical Storm Gaemi strengthened into a typhoon at 2pm yesterday, and could make landfall in Yilan County tomorrow, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The agency was scheduled to issue a sea warning at 11:30pm yesterday, and could issue a land warning later today. Gaemi was moving north-northwest at 4kph, carrying maximum sustained winds near its center of up to 118.8kph and gusts of 154.8kph. The circumference is forecast to reach eastern Taiwan tomorrow morning, with the center making landfall in Yilan County later that night before departing from the north coast, CWA weather forecaster Kuan Shin-ping (官欣平) said yesterday. Uncertainty remains and
SEA WARNING LIKELY: The storm, named Gaemi, could become a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, with the Taipei City Government preparing for flooding A tropical depression east of the Philippines developed into a tropical storm named Gaemi at 2pm yesterday, and was moving toward eastern Taiwan, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Gaemi could begin to affect Taiwan proper on Tuesday, lasting until Friday, and could develop into a moderate typhoon on Wednesday or Thursday, it said. A sea warning for Gaemi could be issued as early as Tuesday morning, it added. Gaemi, the third tropical storm in the Pacific Ocean this typhoon season, is projected to begin moving northwest today, and be closest to Taiwan on Wednesday or Thursday, the agency said. Today, there would likely
DISRUPTIONS: The high-speed rail is to operate as normal, while several airlines either canceled flights or announced early departures or late arrivals Schools and offices in 15 cities and counties are to be closed today due to Typhoon Gaemi, local governments announced last night. The 15 are: Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan, Tainan, Keelung, Hsinchu and Kaohsiung, as well as Yilan, Hualien, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Lienchiang counties. People should brace for torrential rainfall brought by the storm, with its center forecast to make landfall on the east coast between tonight and tomorrow morning, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The agency issued a sea warning for the typhoon at 11:30pm on Monday, followed by a land warning at 11:30am yesterday. As of
CASUALTY: A 70-year-old woman was killed by a falling tree in Kaohsiung as the premier warned all government agencies to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours Schools and offices nationwide are to be closed for a second day today as Typhoon Gaemi crosses over the nation, bringing torrential rain and whipping winds. Gaemi was forecast to make landfall late last night. From Tuesday night, its outer band brought substantial rainfall and strong winds to the nation. As of 6:15pm last night, the typhoon’s center was 20km southeast of Hualien County, Central Weather Administration (CWA) data showed. It was moving at 19kph and had a radius of 250km. As of 3pm yesterday, one woman had died, while 58 people were injured, the Central Emergency Operation Center said. The 70-year-old