Private donations to a Ministry of Health and Welfare account for disaster relief in flood-hit Hualien County totaled nearly NT$1.4 billion (US$45.57 million), the ministry said yesterday.
The dedicated account — the Taiwan Foundation for Disaster Relief, which is administered by the ministry — received NT$1.39 billion from more than 310,000 donations as of 11:59pm on Friday last week, the deadline for contributions.
The account was opened on Sept. 25 at the Land Bank of Taiwan Changchun Branch, to provide relief funds after the Mataian River (馬太鞍溪) barrier lake in Hualien's Guangfu Township (光復) overflowed on Sept. 23, following heavy rains brought by Typhoon Ragasa.
Photo: CNA
The barrier lake breach and subsequent flooding had claimed 19 lives and left five other people missing, with an additional 157 people injured.
More than 1,600 households were affected by mudslides.
Out of the total donations, NT$829 million has been used as financial relief for the victims, the foundation said.
Residents in the disaster area who have applied for, but have not yet received financial assistance in the first stage of fund allocations are advised to contact the ministry's 1957 Welfare Consultation Hotline to inquire about the relevant procedures, it said.
In the second stage of funding allocation, the funds would be allocated as aid to seven categories of disadvantaged households and as living allowances for the families of the deceased, the foundation said.
Remaining funds would be allotted for community reconstruction in the third phase of allocation.
The foundation said it would start to write and send receipts to those who made the donations to the dedicated account starting from next month and the donations can be deducted from their income tax payment when they file a tax return next year.
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