Taiwan donates quake emergency supplies to Haiti

The first donation of Love from Taiwan post-earthquake emergency supplies was presented to officials from the Embassy of Haiti at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Aug. 17 in Taipei City.

Presided over by MOFA Vice Minister Alexander Tah-ray Yui, the handover involved Charge d’Affaires Francilien Victorin and First Secretary Margareth Fabien. The items, requested by the government of Haiti, include food products, oxygen concentrators, personal protective equipment, sleeping bags and surgical masks.

According to the MOFA, a magnitude 7.2 tremblor affected an area 150 kilometers west of capital Port-au-Prince Aug. 14. A total of 1,419 lives were lost, 6,900 injured and numerous buildings, bridges and roads damaged.

Shortly after the quake, MOFA Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu called Haiti counterpart Claude Joseph to offer his sincere sympathies, while Gu Wen-jiann, ROC (Taiwan) ambassador to Haiti, expressed his care and concern to Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

President Tsai Ing-wen also conveyed her condolences on behalf of the government and people of Taiwan, and pledged to donate US$500,000 to assist with rescue and reconstruction efforts.

Haiti is one of Taiwan’s key regional partners, the MOFA said. No effort will be spared in coordinating public-private sector humanitarian assistance so as to ensure a swift return to everyday life for the Caribbean island nation, the ministry added.

In a tweet on its official Twitter account, the MOFA said “Vice Minister Yui handed over the 1st #LoveFromTaiwan shipment of emergency supplies requested by #Haiti after the devastating magnitude 7.2 quake. The items, in addition to a donation of US$500K, will help save lives & get #Taiwan’s #Caribbean ally on the road to recovery.” (SFC-E)