Indonesia's top liaison officer in Taiwan mailed a thank-you letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently, extending gratitude to the people of Taiwan for their generosity and compassion by raising funds for Asian children affected by the Dec. 26 tsunamis.
Ferry Yahya, director of the Indonesian Economic and Trade Office in Taipei, wrote to offer appreciation on behalf of the Indonesian government to the government and people of Taiwan after more than NT$400 million (US$12.54 million) was raised in two weeks after the killer tsunamis struck, Government Information Office (GIO) Director-General Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said yesterday.
Yahya also said the Indonesian government will assist the designated Taiwanese NGOs in using the donated money and executing related plans in Indonesia, according to Lin.
More than half of the Dec. 26 tsunami victims were in Indonesia, which will be the major recipient nation of the Taiwanese funds.
Sri Lanka, also hard-hit by the tsunamis, is another recipient.
The Taiwanese public opened their hearts and wallets when the GIO called for donations to raise funds to sponsor 10,000 children affected by the tsunami catastrophe across South and Southeast Asia.
In two weeks, NT$400.95 million in cash was raised after the GIO launched its "Day after Tomorrow, 10,000 Hopes" fundraising drive, hoping to sponsor 10,000 tsunami-affected children for one year, Lin said.
The GIO signed a contract with Hua Nan Commercial Bank yesterday for the formation of a trust fund to manage the donated money and ensure that the donations are used correctly and wisely.
The GIO also forged contracts with three private organizations; namely, the Taiwan Fund For Children and Families, World Vision Taiwan and the Buddhist Compassionate Relief Tzu Chi Foundation, which are commissioned to plan how to use the funds.
Part of the funds will also be used to finance programs benefiting poor children in Taiwan, according to GIO officials.
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