The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday said that it is to continue providing humanitarian assistance to refugees displaced by the onslaught of the Islamic State (IS) and other armed conflicts in the Middle East.
The ministry continues to work with the US as well as other nations and international organizations to provide humanitarian assistance to people in conflict-torn regions, the ministry said.
Taiwan’s donations include prefabricated housing units, LED lighting equipment, medical supplies, warm clothing and food, the ministry said.
It said the nation has also been helping with infrastructure projects to restore water wells and improve living conditions in refugee camps.
“We will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to refugees and those in need in the region, and will expand Taiwan’s participation in regional and global affairs to make greater contributions to the international community,” the ministry said.
This is in line with the nation’s efforts to serve as a provider of humanitarian assistance and a peacemaker in the region, it added.
The ministry’s statement followed news that Representative to the US Shen Lyu-shun (沈呂巡) attended a plenary of the US-led global coalition to counter the IS earlier this week in Washington.
US Department of State Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs spokesperson Gabrielle Price said that the counter-IS plenary on Monday was attended by 59 of the 65 coalition partners.
Other coalition members include Taiwan, New Zealand, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Egypt, the EU, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Lebanon, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Turkey, the UK and the US.
Concerns have arisen in Taiwan that IS has targeted the nation after the Republic of China flag was shown in a video released on Tuesday by the militant group.
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) urged the public to remain calm and said that the government would take the necessary precautions and protective measures to ensure national security.
The IS video surfaced after US President Barack Obama earlier this week at the East Asia summit in Malaysia named some of the US’ close counterterrorism partners in the Asia-Pacific region, including Taiwan.
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