July 12, 2022
No. 168
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Taiwan Foundation for Disaster Relief (TFDR) today signed an MOU on a cooperation project to enhance food security and people’s livelihoods in southwestern Haiti after it was hit by an earthquake. The initiative, which aims to assist Haiti, a diplomatic ally of Taiwan, in resuming agricultural production and addressing food shortages in earthquake-affected areas, represents a concrete action by Taiwan to join other countries in supporting postdisaster reconstruction in Haiti.
Southern Haiti was struck by a devastating 7.2-magnitude earthquake on August 14, 2021, and hit soon afterwards by Tropical Storm Grace. Local infrastructure and farms were severely damaged, causing food shortages to nearly a million people in affected provinces. Focusing on food security, MOFA and the TFDR have jointly launched a postdisaster reconstruction program to be implemented by the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund, which operates a technical mission in Haiti.
Building on a southern Haiti subproject under the ongoing bilateral National Rice Seed Production Enhancement Project, the one-year program will be implemented with funding of approximately US$500,000 from the TFDR. Among other measures, the program will enhance the maintenance of irrigation facilities, restore rice production systems, and develop rice sales channels. Undertaken in cooperation with Haiti’s Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, the endeavor will provide guidance to farmers on the resumption of rice production, create job opportunities for those living in disaster-stricken areas, and improve farmers’ incomes. The initiative marks part of a wider effort to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of eliminating poverty, achieving food security, and developing agriculture.
Haiti is an important diplomatic ally of Taiwan in the Caribbean. Since establishing diplomatic relations 66 years ago, Taiwan and Haiti have enjoyed a robust friendship and promoted joint endeavors covering such domains as agriculture, energy, health care, infrastructure, humanitarian assistance, and sustainable development. The government and people of Taiwan deeply sympathize with Haiti in the wake of devastating natural disasters. Taiwan can help and Taiwan is helping—and it is in this spirit of mutual assistance that the Taiwanese government will actively integrate the strengths of civil society in continuing to support Haiti’s postdisaster recovery and assist its people in overcoming adversity and rebuilding their homes. (E)