| Premier Su Tseng-chang expressed his condolences for
the victims of a massive landslide in Guinsaugon village
on Leyte Island in the central Philippines. Guinsaugon,
a farming village of 1,800 people, was virtually wiped
out on February 17 by a landslide that caused heavy casualties.
More than 1,400 people were reported missing, with many
of them feared dead.
After receiving a request for disaster relief aid
from the Philippine authorities on the evening of February
17, Wu Hsin-hsing, Taiwan's representative in Manila,
immediately conveyed the message to Taipei.
After receiving reports concerning the deadly landslide
from members of his Cabinet, the premier instructed
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Department
of Health to assist in relief efforts, said Government
Information Office head Cheng Wen-tsang.
Cheng said that 800 kilograms of medical emergency
kits worth US$92,600 were rushed to the Philippines
on February 18. According to MOFA spokesman Michael
Lu, the kits can meet the needs of 3,000 people for
a one-and-a-half-month period. The Taiwanese government
will continue offering help to the neighbouring country
in cooperation with nongovernmental organizations.
Taiwan's China Airlines provided prompt assistance
to help fly the relief material to Manila for distribution
in the disaster area. It was the first shipment of foreign
relief goods to arrive in Manila since the landslide
tragedy was reported.
On February 18, Lu also announced that, in accordance
with President Chen Shui-bian's instructions, MOFA will
donate US$100,000 to help fund disaster relief programs.
Cheng meanwhile urged the public to make donations for
aid to the Philippine victims.
In addition to the medical supplies and cash aid,
a 31-strong rescue team formed by the Taiwan-based nongovernmental
search-and-rescue organisation International Headquarters
SAR Taiwan, arrived in the Philippines on February 19
to assist in rescue efforts. In addition to the 31 search-and-rescue
experts, the team included three aid workers from the
Dharma Drum Buddhist Foundation.
They carried with them a variety of high-tech rescue
equipment such as thermal scanners and sound detectors
for location of buried survivors, in addition to 250
cases of instant noodles, 150 cases of bottled water,
200 sleeping bags and 56 tents.
The search-and-rescue team was immediately flown to
Guinsaugon, some 670 kilometers southeast of the capital
city of Manila, by a military transport plane, after
first touching down at Manila, according to the Manila
International Airport Authority.
The Philippine government expressed deep appreciation
for the quick response from Taiwan, according to Taiwanese
representatives stationed in Manila.
Wu said he has conveyed condolences to the Philippine
landslide victims on behalf of the ROC government. Moreover,
the Minister gave an assurance that the ROC government
will offer further relief assistance as the need arises.
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