Thu, Oct 07, 1999 page4

• Volunteers call for coordination

  DISASTER PREPAREDNESS In response to the disorganization in the wake of the 921 quake, charity and medical groups are pressing for a better organizational structure for future relief efforts

  • by Oliver Lin / STAFF REPORTER
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  While Taiwan is unquestionably not short of volunteer groups willing to help in time of need, as shown after the Sept. 21 earthquake, social groups said yesterday that coordination among groups is certainly lacking.

  Volunteers and others have been quite vocal about their unhappiness with the relief structure. Having put down their own work to rush to disaster areas, many volunteers found themselves with nothing to do.

  A group of nurses told TV news reporters in Nantou: "Our hospital is short of nurses already, but we asked for leave to help residents here. Then there was nothing for us to do."

  

  An army relief worker receives treatment at a temporary medical center in Nantou from volunteer medical personnel.

  PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES

  This was not an isolated incident.

  "At a certain stage 200 doctors assigned to the Nantou disaster relief center were left idle, as they were not provided with the necessary information. They ended up helping move relief supplies rather than treating patients," said Huang Min-ho (黃明和), an independent lawmaker at a panel discussion in the legislature yesterday.

  Volunteers need to be kept informed, coordinated and organized to make the best contribution in a natural disaster, volunteer groups said.

  World Vision Taiwan (台灣世界展望會) has been providing temporary houses and construction materials and offering care to children and the elderly by working with local governments and volunteers from other groups, such as Tunghai University, said Alex Chou (周炳薰), budget manager of the group.

  The government, specifically the Interior Ministry's Social Department, which is in charge of the administration of social groups, should play the role of coordinating the efforts of private groups, Chou suggested, but added that he was only offering his personal opinion but not representing the views of World Vision Taiwan.

  "At least there should be enough information for volunteers to know what they can do."

  The Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation (慈濟功德會), which is generally recognized as one of the most efficient private charity groups, has again won praise from the public for its well organized help to residents in the stricken areas.

  "We are in a position to use our flexibility as a private group to help the government do what it is not able or not efficient enough to do," said Tzu Chi member Lin Ya-mei (林雅美). "But we still need the government, including local village chiefs, to let us know where help is needed."

  The Tokushukai Medical Corporation (德洲會), a Japanese hospital group with considerable emergency medical experience sent a 30-member medical group to Taiwan's aid. Hsu Chia-ying (徐嘉英), a Taiwan-born doctor who now practices with the group, said the command system for disaster relief leaves much room for improvement.

  "A temporary command or coordination system should be established in time of disaster to keep all organizations involved informed of what needs to be done," Hsu said.

  At least some efforts have been made in this respect.

  With the support of the Social Department of the Interior Ministry, the Department of Social Work of Tunghai University and more than 100 volunteer social groups have formed the Social Workers' Integration Association in central Taiwan (中部社福機構社工人員資源整合促進會) to coordinate demand and supply of social services in the aftermath of the quake.

  "It has been quite useful in channeling resources to where they are most needed," said Chan Hsiu-yuan (詹秀員).

  Nevertheless, a more formal organizational structure may still be needed to react to disasters of the magnitude of the 921 quake.

  "We are going to make a proposal for such an organization in preparation for large-scale disasters," said Chien Tai-lang (簡太郎), vice interior minister who is currently posted in Taichung to oversee relief and reconstruction work.

  "Organization and training for disaster relief should be in place before disasters happen," he said.
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