The head of the Red Cross Society of the Republic of China (ROC) yesterday denied reports of a recent conflict with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) over deliveries of relief aid to Palau, which was hit by Typhoon Haiyan last month.
Red Cross chairwoman Wang Ching-feng (王清峰) said she was not unhappy with any government agency and grateful for the assistance they have provided.
A story in The Journalist magazine published on Tuesday alleged that that the Red Cross had asked for the ministry’s help in covering the cost of shipping relief materials to Palau. According to the story, the ministry did not reply in a timely manner, angering Wang.
Wang said the organization had not asked the ministry to cover the cost of delivering temporary housing units to Palau.
The Red Cross Society had received a letter from Palauan President Tommy Remengesau requesting relief assistance, and it asked the ministry to help verify the letter’s authenticity, she said.
The ministry confirmed the letter was genuine a short time later, and the Red Cross then contacted the Ministry of the Interior, which agreed to provide 60 temporary housing units, she said.
The units have been loaded aboard a Navy vessel that is scheduled to depart today and reach Palau on Wednesday, she added.
As part of Taiwan’s aid to Palau, the foreign ministry has donated US$100,000 to help with the Western Pacific ally’s post-Haiyan reconstruction efforts.
The island country of 21,000 people suffered severe damage to its infrastructure and schools from the typhoon’s wind and rain.
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