Although they are many miles away from the quake's epicenter, Su Cheng-chi (蘇正吉) and his wife Yeh Tsu-ling (葉子綾), both of Pingtung County, know all too well how it feels to lose loved ones.
Su and Yeh's 7-year-old daughter was killed three months ago when her school bus was hit by a truck. The accident left three children in the bus dead and nine others injured -- including their 3-year-old son, who sustained a fractured skull and a concussion.
Since the accident, they have collected NT$1.2 million from their insurance company. As soon as they heard of the quake, however, they decided to give their insurance money to the families of victims of the earthquake, with whom they said they can easily empathize.
"We got the money at the expense of our daughter's life. How could we be expected to use a single penny of it?" Su said.
Su and Yeh are but two among thousands of Taiwanese who offered vast amounts of financial relief to victims of Tuesday's earthquake.
Public donations
The public has shown tremendous support through donations of both money and supplies. As of Thurs-day, Taipei County had received over NT$14 million in its disaster relief account (Bank of Taiwan, Panchiao Branch, No. 027038002803). The fund will go solely to victims in Taipei County.
The Cabinet has set up a special account to centralize financial donations from around the island. The account is postal office remittance No. 08809211.
Following the KMT's announcement on Thursday of an additional NT$300 million in relief funds, as well as the establishment of a 24-hour service center in the lobby of the party's headquarters, the DPP has gathered over NT$12 million in cash and NT$10 million in medical supplies.
The New Party also plans to distribute relief supplies by car and helicopter.
Truckloads of supplies have flooded into the relief center set up in the Nantou County Stadium.
Items most urgently needed are flashlights, batteries, tents, blankets, milk, diapers, and generators.
Nantou County Commissioner Peng Pai-hsien (
Foreign aid
After American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Raymond Burghardt announced the institute's donation of US$25,000 to Taiwan's Red Cross Society yesterday, the mainland branch of the Red Cross pledged US$100,000 to the same organization.
This is the first financial relief Taiwan's Red Cross has ever accepted from its Chinese counterpart. Taiwan has, however, declined China's offers of rescue experts and medical teams.
American Express announced Thursday that it would contribute US$50,000 to the Taiwan Red Cross's relief efforts.
New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani announced in the heavily Taiwanese emigrant enclave of Flushing, Queens that his city will help organize aid efforts for quake victims.
Problems of transportation will necessitate monetary contributions, he said.
Profiteering
Some people have reportedly stolen truckloads of unguarded supplies, claiming to be relief team members; others have allegedly fixed high prices on badly needed supplies.
The Ministry of Justice has issued a warning that such acts are illegal and will be prosecuted. The National Police Administration has assigned special agents to further investigate the matter, and the Cabinet-level Fair Trade Commission has set up a task force on the issue.
Infringements of the Fair Trade Act are subject to fines of between NT$50,000 and NT$25 million. Repeat offenders are subject to an additional fine of up to NT$50 million and risk three years in jail.
Charity groups
Charity groups have played a vital role in relief efforts and have earned high praise from the public for their efficiency.
World Vision of Taiwan has raised its relief fund from US$2 million to US$5 million and has established temporary shelters in Puli, Tungshih, Changhua, Touliu, and Chiayi.
If you wish to make donations through World Vision, please contact the organization's Taipei Branch at (02) 2585-6300. World Vision's postal remittance account number is 15752467.
International assistance has also come in through the organization. World Vision of Hong Kong has pledged US$100,000 and will send a relief team; the South Korean branch has donated US$20,000 and the US branch US$100,000.
Chungtai Temple (
Fokuangshan Temple (