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MORAKOT: THE AFTERMATH: Politicians, doctors form relief alliance

A handout photo released by the Military News Agency yesterday shows soldiers scooping mud in Ren-ai Township, Nantou County. PHOTO: AFP

A group of politicians and medical professionals based in northern Taiwan formed an alliance yesterday to pool resources for flood and mudslide-ravaged Aboriginal villages in the south.

“Since many people in Taipei are anxious to help, the alliance decided to take direct action and adopt hard-hit Aboriginal villages in southern Taiwan,” said Lee Shin (李新), a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Taipei City councilor.

The “88 Taiwan Warmth Delivery Alliance” will send physicians, nurses, pharmacists and social workers to the most severely affected villages in mountainous areas of the south, Lee said at a news conference at the Legislative Yuan.

“If all goes smoothly, our medical relief workers will set off before this Sunday to undertake post-disaster rehabilitation operations in affected zones,” Lee said.

Those with the necessary skills can join the alliance, while the public can also donate to projects in the villages.

At the same conference, Hou Chin-chu (侯金助), head of Shihzih Township in Pingtung County, said floods and landslides triggered by Typhoon Morakot had hurt the county’s Aboriginal communities far more than had been reported.

“If all goes smoothly, our medical relief workers will set off before this Sunday.” — Lee Sin, KMT legislator

“Many villages, including Wutai [霧台], Sandimen [三地門], Majia [瑪家], Taiwu [泰武] and Laiyi [來義], were cut off when Morakot’s torrential rains knocked out roads and bridges,” Hou said.

Trapped villagers are in urgent need of help, he said.

Huang Sung-hsiung (黃松雄), a physician from the New Taiwanese Cultural Foundation, said the alliance would form teams of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and public health experts to send to southern Taiwan later this week.

They will offer medical services and counseling, as well as helping with the environmental cleanup to prevent outbreaks of disease.

KMT Legislator Lo Shu-lei (羅淑蕾) said the disaster zones needed supplies such as instant noodles, detergent and medical supplies such as face masks.

“The alliance has sent 2,000 masks to Kaohsiung County to meet demand,” said Lo, who urged others to join the effort.

A spokesman for Althea Medical Resources Integrated Service said the company would join the alliance to help get medical aid to flood survivors.

“We will dispatch well-equipped medical vehicles to assist medical personnel sent to the disaster zones,” the spokesman said.
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