Nearly 56 percent of underprivileged children face the plight of not getting regular meals during the school summer vacation, according to a survey by the Child Welfare League Foundation.
The foundation said school lunches might not be a big deal for urban children, but for underprivileged children in some rural areas, it can be the main meal of the day for themselves and even for their families if they can bring their leftovers home.
The foundation said that when school is out, up to 55.8 percent of these youngsters do not get regular meals, and even if they do have something to eat, up to 63 percent often rely on instant noodles and canned food.
In addition, 77 percent have to help with laundry or cleaning, 60 percent have to help take care of their younger siblings or elderly family members and 40 percent have to help prepare meals, the survey found.
Foundation chief executive Chen Li-ju (陳麗如) said the organization launched a project in 2010 to supply long-term nutrition for underprivileged children, and has since helped to feed more than 7,000 children during the summer and winter vacations.
Chen said that since the foundation started to solicit donations for this year’s project on July 4, it has been gratified to receive some significant contributions, including the biggest individual donation of NT$8 million (US$267,082) from the head of CJW International Co.
Chen said the donation will help the foundation to “do more” for underprivileged children, and urged more people to chip in for the project.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
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