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Taiwan leads in providing aid to Japan’s tsunami victims

Taiwan’s 23 million people are the most generous in terms of money and material aid. More than 5 billion TND are raised in a race involving political leaders, companies, private groups and ordinary citizens. President Ma gets personally involved.
Taipei (AsiaNews) – Taiwan leads the campaign of solidarity in favour of the victims of the 11 March earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan. Altogether more than 5 billion Taiwan new Dollars (US$ 170 million) or US$ 7 per Taiwanese were sent in relief donations to the Taiwanese Red Cross and Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry. Additional funds as well as large amounts of material aid were collected by other organisations. By comparison, South Korea, a country of 49 million people, raised about 55 billion won (US$ 50 million), according to the Yonhap news agency. The United States, a country of some 300 million, pledged US$ 120 million as of the end of March.

Europe so far has been less generous. Ukraine, which hosted a donor conference in Kiev on Monday, raised about 550 million Euros (0 million) to seal the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster. Contributors include the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia and Germany, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Taiwanese solidarity runs across the board. Immediately after the disaster, the Taiwanese government offered 100 million Taiwanese New Dollars TND and sent a specialised rescue team. It also called on the Taiwanese people and charitable organisations to help.

Taiwanese companies, including Evergreen, were quick in providing help, including US$ 12 million.

World Vision Taiwan raised US$ 330,000 for relief and children’s shelters in the affected areas.

The Taiwanese Red Cross moved right away and, within three days, shipped 500 sleeping bags, 500 mattresses and thousands of clothes and blankets.

A telethon was also organised, titled ‘Believe in Hope, Fight and Smile’, to raise funds. President Ma Ying-jeou took part in the event, personally donating 200,000 New Taiwan Dollars (about US$ 7,000). He urged the public to donate as much as they could and personally operated one of the call-in phones (pictured).

Taiwan’s Catholic community also came together with prayers and material aid. The Regional Bishops’ Conference of Taiwan raised about US$ 88,000 by 29 March. The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Holy See responded promptly to Benedict XVI’s appeal during the Angelus of 13 March. “I encourage everyone who is working with praiseworthy promptness to bring them aid,” the Pontiff said on that occasion. He also donated 15,000 Euros via the ‘Cor Unum’ Pontifical Council.

Historically, Taiwan and Japan have not always had friendly relations. Between 1895 and 1945, Japan ruled the island; however, since then economic and other ties between the two countries have become strong. Japan is in fact Taiwan’s second trading partner after mainland China.