Taiwan companies have pledged a total NT$10 million (US$356,416) in donations to a planned fund for Ukrainians who have fled their country due to an invasion by Russia, a Taiwanese legislator said Tuesday.
The government-backed fund will be launched soon to collect aid donations from corporations and members of the public, Deputy Legislative Speaker Tsai Chi-chang (???) said at a press conference.
He said that following discussions with business leaders last weekend, several companies have already made pledges to donate a total NT$10 million to assist the Ukrainian refugees.
The Relieve Disaster Foundation, which was established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to handle surplus donations after a major earthquake in Taiwan in September 1999, will manage the fund, Tsai said, adding that the details will be announced in the next few days.
MOFA is currently working out the disbursement process, he said, noting that there has been a proliferation of fraudulent online fundraisers for Ukraine recently.
Tsai said Taiwan's donations will demonstrate its solidarity with Ukraine's neighbors, which are trying to accommodate the nearly 500,000 refugees who have fled the conflict, to date.
Poland, the country current hosting the largest number of Ukrainian refugees, showed its support for Taiwan in 2018 by inviting Taiwanese legislators to make an official visit, he said.
Meanwhile, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Yui (???) said the Taiwan government sent of 27 metric tons of medical supplies to Frankfurt on Monday for distribution in Ukraine, in keeping with the notion that "Taiwan can help."
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel