Thailand and the Philippines made contributions yesterday to Taiwan’s post-typhoon relief efforts, donating NT$1.165 million (US$35,000) and NT$2 million, respectively, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said.
Arbhorn Manasvanich, the executive director of the Taipei-based Thailand Trade and Economic Office, presented the Thai government’s donation of NT$1 million along with NT$165,000 contributed by Thai citizens to Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Director-General Matthew Lee (李世明) yesterday.
Manasvanich said the money shows Thailand’s heartfelt condolences and sympathy for Taiwanese, and he hoped it would help relieve their suffering.
“We hope that the government and people of Taiwan will be successful in the reconstruction and rehabilitation process,” Manasvanich said.
Lee said countries in the Asia-Pacific region have all expressed deep concern for the scale of the destruction caused by Typhoon Morakot.
In addition to Australia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and other countries, the Philippines also donated NT$2 million yesterday in the wake of the natural disaster, Lee said.
As of yesterday, at least 72 countries and 16 international organizations have donated a total of NT$95 million to help disaster-stricken families in southern Taiwan, MOFA tallies showed.
A five-member team from the EU that arrived in the country the previous day was scheduled to visit the Central Emergency Operations Center, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lin (林永樂), and the Red Cross Society of the Republic of China, to learn about the relief operations.
The EU team will leave for southern Taiwan today to join the relief operations and will stay for 10 to 12 days to assess disaster relief needs.
Meanwhile, disaster relief supplies, including 250 blankets, 42 sleeping bags and 32 tents donated by Germany’s civic group Aviation Without Borders, arrived in Taiwan yesterday.
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