Taiwan's government announced Friday it would provide US$500,000 in funds to help Reporters without Borders (RSF) support journalists covering the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said in a statement the government was making a donation of US$500,000 to a Press Freedom Centre that the Paris-headquartered press group set up in Ukraine in March.
Inaugurated on March 12 in Lviv, Western Ukraine, the center provides protective equipment, such as bulletproof vests and helmets, as well as financial and psychological assistance to reporters covering the war in the East European nation, according to RSF.
MOFA said in its statement that the donation demonstrates Taiwan's determination to work with important international non-governmental organizations on defending democracy and freedom of the press.
Taiwan is also keen to contribute to efforts to protect reporters in conflict zones and combat disinformation, the statement added.
Meanwhile, RSF Secretary General Christophe Deloire said Friday the donation pledged by Taiwan "allows us to strengthen our on-the-ground actions by providing these journalists with more protection gear and security training."
It will also "help combat the Kremlin's disinformation campaign to justify its invasion of Ukraine," Deloire added.
According to RSF, its center in Lviv has ordered 541 bulletproof vests and 490 tactical helmets since opening, some of which are already available to reporters in Ukraine.
A total of 78 journalists have received physical and psychological safety training while 65 journalists and 15 media outlets have been given emergency financial assistance, the group said.
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, at least seven reporters have been killed and 11 injured by gunfire, according to RSF data.
Source : Focus Taiwan News Channel