Taiwan - typhoon Red Cross, politician interviews

China pledges €11m as criticisms of preparations for Morakot start

by Daniel Finnan

Article published on the 2009-08-12 Latest update 2009-08-13 07:40 TU

Rescuers transport wrapped bodies from the crash scene of a helicopter Pingtung County.
(Photo: Reuters)

Search and rescue teams in Taiwan have found nearly 1,000 people alive in remote villages after landslides triggered by Typhoon Morakot. China has pledged 11 million euros for the relief effort, as some activists begin to criticise Taiwanese preparations for Morakot.

“We are happy that these hundreds of people were discovered earlier today,” Christian Li from the Taiwanese Red Cross told RFI. “The government has initiated a search and rescue operation using helicopters, to pick up them, and return them to the playground of a school, where the command centre of the government is,” he added.

The death toll from the disaster has risen to 103, after 32 bodies were found in Liukuai, Kaohsiung County, according to the National Fire Agency, although military officials have been unable to confirm the death toll.

In central Chiayi County, water and electricity is still not functioning. While it is unclear how long search and operations will continue for.

“According to the National Science Council here in this command centre, it was predicted that the operation would be temporarily ended on 13 August. But it seems that now, we were informed yesterday, that it might last until the end of this weekend,” said Li, who is part of the Disaster Relief Team.

China, who still claims jurisdiction over Taiwan, has promised 11 million euros for relief efforts – the most generous donation so far.

“This time China has mobilised very quickly, in putting through a Red Cross led effort, to help provide resources and materials for the victims of our flood in the southern part of Taiwan,” Joanna Lei, former legislator in the Third Electoral District of Taipei County, told RFI.

But there have already been some criticisms of the Taiwanese preparations for the typhoon season, especially considering the Chinese evacuation of one million people before Morakot’s landfall.

“They should be a lot more prepared because Typhoon is a fact of life in Taiwan,” said Lei, who flew into Beijing, from Taipei on Tuesday.

“There are two major criticisms, one – we should have evacuated people from remote areas,” said the political activist. “We should be able to deliver the rescue troops a lot more effectively, so these two, were major criticisms,” she added.

Meanwhile, Li, who is based at the Disaster Emergency Operation centre in Taipei told RFI that he is “touched by the goodwill of the people” who were “comforting each other with psychological support”.