Taipei: Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has pledged a donation of NT$5 million (US$154,257) to aid relief and reconstruction efforts following a devastating earthquake in Japan's Kumamoto region. The magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck on Tuesday, causing significant damage to infrastructure and resulting in casualties.
According to Focus Taiwan, the funds are earmarked for reconstruction projects and assisting affected residents to quickly resume their daily lives. The earthquake, which hit on Tuesday afternoon, has led to numerous casualties and extensive damage to roads, buildings, and other essential infrastructure. The region remains under the threat of aftershocks, exacerbating the situation.
The Kumamoto prefectural disaster response headquarters has confirmed 34 fatalities as of Friday morning, with investigations ongoing to determine if an additional death is related to the disaster. In response to the calamity, MOFA has initiated a public fundraising campaign in collaboration with the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF), which will handle a special disaster relief account.
Public donations can be made to the Mega Bank account, number 021-09-01-7741, from August 1 to August 31. Mega Bank's code is 017, facilitating contributions from those wishing to support the relief efforts.
Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, and Premier Cho Jung-tai have each committed NT$200,000 to the relief account, as confirmed by Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo on Thursday.
Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung emphasized Taiwan's solidarity with Japan, pledging continued support as the country undertakes recovery and reconstruction initiatives. He also encouraged the Taiwanese public to participate in the fundraising campaign to aid the affected communities in rebuilding their homes and returning to normalcy.