Typhoon Morakot caused over 600 deaths, millions of dollars in damage and forced nearly 25,000 people to evacuate their homes. Many roadways and even villages have been washed away. Volunteers from the PCT have made several hikes up to mountain communities rendered inaccessible because of flooding or washed out roadways to deliver emergency supplies, pastoral care and psychosocial support.
We Are Responding
Presbyterian World Service & Development (PWS&D) and The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) are carrying out relief and reconstruction activities. The PCT is housing 1,500 people in churches and other buildings, providing food, water, electricity and daily necessities. Volunteers are conducting cleaning missions to scrape mud out of houses and buildings that were flooded. The PCT is currently negotiating to secure land for those whose houses were washed away in order to rebuild homes and livelihoods.
One of the strongest aspects of this response is the role of the PCT as a facilitator between the government and indigenous communities, helping to ensure that relief activities take into account the special needs of these communities.
The Costs
It costs about $5.50 to provide food and necessities to each person for a day. For those who have lost their homes, the PCT is planning to provide housing, food and necessities for at least 6 months if not longer.
You can help bring relief to the people of Taiwan
An incredible $376,000 was raised by Presbyterians and Taiwanese groups across Canada! Please continue to pray for those affected by the typhoon and the volunteers working tirelessly to help their neighbours. Your donations are needed to provide relief supplies, psychosocial care and rebuild homes. Make a donation online, mail donations directly to the office, donate through your church or call PWS&D today at 1-800-619-7301, ext. 291. Please indicate “Taiwan Relief” on the donation.
