The government is to distribute a first batch of donations made by members of the public to Turkey and four non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) said yesterday, as the amount donated by Taiwanese in the wake of a devastating earthquake exceeded NT$900 million (US$29.6 million) in cash and relief goods.
Wu said US$6 million would go to the Turkish government, while US$14 million would be donated to NGOs operating in regions of Turkey and Syria that were affected by the quake earlier this month.
The organizations are the Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers and Migrants and Care Turkiye, which would both receive US$4 million, the Turkish Search and Rescue Association, which would receive US$1 million, and the Mercy Corps Syria, which would receive US$5 million, Wu said.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
Turkish Representative to Taiwan Muhammed Berdibek yesterday thanked Taiwan for its generosity and said that “nothing is impossible as long as Taiwan exists.”
His office’s telephone lines had been swamped with calls offering help and it received more than 8,000 e-mails on the day after the earthquake, Berdibek said.
Within three days of the quake, it had received more donations than its eight staff members could handle, forcing him to announce that no more donations would be accepted, he said.
Photo: EPA-EFE
His office has received 71 tonnes of blankets, 15,000 sleeping bags, 1,200 tents, nearly 100 tonnes of winter clothes, 60 tonnes of sweatshirts and pants, 13 tonnes of socks, 19 tonnes of personal hygiene goods and 35 tonnes of diapers, he said.
Berdibek also thanked Taiwan’s Turkish community for their generous aid
Immediately after the quake, the government dispatched rescue teams, including search dogs, to the affected regions.
Taiwan earlier pledged to donate US$2 million to Turkey.
Wu said that Taiwan sees itself as a nation that helps whenever emergency assistance is needed.
The government’s donation would be used for disaster relief efforts, but it might also offer Turkey assistance with post-disaster construction, Wu said, adding that he would stay in contact with Berdibek’s office.
Wu said the nation’s efforts would contribute to Taiwanese and Turks feeling more amicable towards each other.
Closer ties between the two nation’s could also facilitate travel, trade and cultural exchanges, he added.
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