Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Kamal Kharazi met with rescue workers from Taiwan on Tuesday to express his gratitude for their assistance in post-earthquake relief work in the southeastern Iranian city of Bam.
Kharazi visited the camp of the Taiwanese rescue team shortly after his arrival in Bam from Tehran by helicopter. He shook hands with Taiwanese rescue team members and extended his regards to all of them.
Before Kharazi's arrival, the rescue workers raised a ROC flag in front of the camp. However, the UN provisional post-disaster relief command center politely asked the team to remove the flag because of strong protests from Chinese rescue and diplomatic staff in Bam.
Taiwan's government has donated US$100,000 in post-quake relief aid to Iran and sent a 60-member rescue team to join search-and-rescue operations.
The Taiwan team was jointly organized by the National Fire Administration under the Ministry of the Interior and the Taipei City Government's fire department.
The Buddhist Compassionate Relief Tzu Chi Foundation, Taiwan's largest charity organization, has also sent a team to help with the relief efforts. The Tzu Chi volunteers came from Taiwan, Jordan and Turkey. Many other Taiwanese religious and charitable groups are also planning relief programs for Bam quake victims.
Hank Du (杜明翰), World Vision Taiwan director, pointed out that the public could support the relief program by donating money.
"For the first month of the relief program, we mainly try to send in daily basic necessities and medical resourses. We hope to raise US$100,000 in Taiwan for the first month's supplies," Du said.
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