The first batch of permanent houses for survivors of Typhoon Morakot is nearly completed, with residents planning to move in on Feb. 11.
Provided by Tzu Chi Foundation and Foxconn Technology Group, the site, located in Kaohsiung County’s Shanlin Township (杉林), will be able to accommodate about 1200 households after its second phase of construction is completed at the end of July.
Residents of the new site will come mainly from Aboriginal communities, including members of the Tsou tribe originally from Namasia Township (那瑪夏), Bunun Aborigines from Taoyuan Township (桃源) , Rukai Aborigines from Liukuei Township (六龜), Plains Aborigines from Jiasian Township (甲仙) and some Han people.
Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) yesterday inspected the site to gain a better understanding of the preparatory work before the moving-in ceremony.
cooperation
The project would not have been completed in six months without the cooperation of the public and private sectors, NGOs and business, Wu said.
After the permanent houses are built, the government will continue to work with the groups to help people with employment opportunities by developing organic agriculture or making arts and crafts, as well as preserving their culture and heritage.
The other two sites for permanent houses will be built in Wulipu (五里埔), Kaohsiung County, mostly for residents who previously lived in Siaolin Village (小林) and Mahia Farm for residents from Wutai Township (霧台) and Sandimen (山地門) in Pingtung County.
anniversary
Post-Typhoon Morakot Reconstruction Commission vice chairman Chen Chen-chuan (陳振川) said the government hoped work on the two sites would be finished by the end of June, ahead of the first anniversary of the Aug. 8 flooding triggered by the typhoon.
Typhoon Morakot devastated southern Taiwan, leaving nearly 700 dead and a number of villages buried under mudslides.
Meanwhile, Chen added that the Council of Economic for Planning and Development is planning to build permanent houses for Aborigines living in high mountain villages found to be unsafe in Tainan County, Chiayi County, Taitung County to prevent possible future disasters.
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