Public response toward relief efforts for victims of Typhoon Toraji has been lukewarm compared to the spontaneous outpouring of help and sympathy after the 921 earthquake, according to local newspaper reports yesterday.
A Chinese-language paper said that the response may be the result of the economic downturn that has left people with less disposable income, or public mistrust because of widespread government mismanagement and alleged theft of 921 quake funds by authorities.
The Ministry of the Interior set up three accounts to help post-typhoon reconstruction and had collected NT$113,374,870 (US$326,728) yesterday following an NT$20 million donation by the Chi Mei Group.
To assuage public fear about possible mismanagement of the donations, Minister of the Interior Chang Po-ya (
Vice Minister of the Interior Lee Yi-yang (
President Chen Shui-bian (
It is expected that government agencies and political parties will launch a donation campaign in the next few days.
The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp has donated only a few million dollars this time, compared with NT$200 million donated in the wake of the 921 quake.
The Tzu Chi Buddhist Compassionate Relief Foundation (慈濟功德會), the largest charity organization in Taiwan, has been collecting donations and has begun distributing money to the needy.
Private charity organizations reported a sharp contrast to the 921 quake, when private donations of NT$14.6 billion were collected.
The Chinese Fund for Children and Families Taiwan reported that they were deluged with calls for donations after the quake but have received far fewer calls this time.
Despite the lukewarm response, some heartening stories have surfaced, with one 82-year-old veteran who wished to remain anonymous donating NT$1 million (US$28,818).
Another veteran gave a check for NT$1.2 million, allegedly his entire savings.
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