Despite Taiwan's recent failure to at the World Health Assembly (WHA) this week to become an observer of the WHO, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) recently recognized a joint aid program for Afghan refugees organized by Taiwan's government and the Mercy Corps, a Portland-based charity.
The official OCHA Web site carried an article dated May 6 titled "Rice, Roads and a Little Bit of Hope," describing the Mercy Corps' "food for work" project carried out in partnership with the Taiwan's government, which has contributed 240 tonnes of rice to the project.
The aid package involved a road-construction project that has recently begun in Afghanistan's Takhar province and will have employed over 6,300 local people by the time it is completed. To date, over 550 Afghan laborers have been employed and more than 18 tonnes of rice have been distributed as payment.
Aja Bullah, one of the workers employed on the project, was quoted on the Web site as saying he was thankful to have the opportunity to work.
"I have a family of five and I'm the only one working now," he said.
"There is very little chance to work in this area. This project has allowed me to take rice home and feed my family."
The Mercy Corps said that the project's impact is tremendous and is actually creating thousands of local job opportunities apart from the road-building jobs.
Jack Chiang (
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokeswoman Katharine Chang (張小月) said the aid package shows that Taiwan is just doing what it should do as a global citizen.
"It is a good example to show the world that Taiwan is able to help when necessary," she said. "Taiwan is always standing by to provide help by giving medication, food and all kinds of health-related product to those who are in need."
Regarding the recent failure of Taiwan's bid to gain observer status in the WHO, Chang said that it was really the organization's loss.
"It's our sixth bid to enter the WHA, the WHO's highest decision-making body, since 1997," she said.
"Unfortunately, we still could not make it this year. OCHA's recognition of our contribution to Afghanistan is a strong message to the global society that Taiwan is ready to carry out its duties as a global citizen, which we have actually been doing for many years."
OCHA's official Web site was first launched in 1996 and has been highly regarded by governments, international organizations, non-government organizations, academia and the mass media for the speed with which it disseminates information on global humanitarian relief and natural disasters.
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