February 18, 2023
No. 047
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) held a press conference on February 18 to announce earthquake disaster relief assistance to Türkiye and Syria. Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Joseph Wu presided over the press conference and was joined by Representative Muhammed Berdibek of the Turkish Trade Office in Taipei (TTO), Deputy Director Huang Po-tsun and members of the Taiwan international search and rescue team, and dozens of members of the Turkish community in Taiwan. Also joining virtually from Türkiye were Mayor Rifat Sari of Altinözü, a city in the quake-affected part of southern Türkiye, and local representatives of four international nongovernmental organizations. Prerecorded messages by Members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Muhammed Fatih Toprak and Feyzi Berdibek were also broadcast.
Speaking at the press conference, Minister Wu noted that the Taiwanese people remember with gratitude how a search and rescue team traveled all the way from Türkiye to assist Taiwan immediately after the September 21 earthquake in Nantou 24 years ago. When a powerful earthquake struck Türkiye and Syria on February 6, causing heavy casualties and devastation, Taiwan promptly extended a helping hand. MOFA took the lead in announcing a relief donation of US$2 million on behalf of the R.O.C. (Taiwan) government. The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) opened disaster relief accounts for donations at the instruction of the Executive Yuan. The Taiwanese people have responded with warmth and generosity, donating a total of NT$910 million (approximately US$30 million) as of February 17. These developments demonstrate the compassion and strong support of Taiwan’s civil society for relief efforts in Türkiye and Syria.
To facilitate immediate use of the Taiwanese people’s donations toward relief work, Minister Wu announced a first disbursement of US$20 million to a Turkish government agency and international charitable organizations for joint assistance to earthquake survivors in Türkiye and Syria. The funds have been allocated as follows:
1. US$6 million to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) under the Ministry of Interior (of which US$4 million are donations by the Taiwanese people and US$2 million are from the Taiwan government as disaster assistance)
2. US$4 million to the Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers and Migrants (SGDD-ASAM), US$4 million to Care Türkiye, and US$1 million to the AKUT Search and Rescue Association. Donations to these three Turkish NGOs will go toward assisting government and civil society efforts in disaster relief and survivor care.
3. US$5 million to Mercy Corps to assist Syria. MOFA seeks to provide care to affected people within Syria through the organization’s international relief network.
On behalf of the government and people of Türkiye, Representative Berdibek expressed appreciation for the timely assistance by MOFA, the Ministry of the Interior, the MOHW, and other ministries and for the love and support of the Taiwanese people. He thanked the Taiwan government for providing US$6 million in disaster assistance to AFAD, Taiwanese businesses and charitable NGOs for raising and shipping large amounts of in-kind donations in a short period of time, and the Taiwanese people for their acts of generosity. He repeatedly thanked the Taiwanese people for their spirit of sharing in adversity and rescuing others as if they were their own. He also pointed out that if there is Taiwan, there is no limit. He concluded his remarks by again conveying his gratitude for Taiwan’s compassion and support on behalf of the Turkish people.
Turkish national Tolga Erdoğan thanked the Taiwanese people and government on behalf of members of the Turkish community in Taiwan, who he said could find no words to express such profound gratitude for Taiwan’s timely assistance. He called Taiwan a true brother country of Türkiye.
In prerecorded messages, Turkish Grand National Assembly members Toprak and Berdibek commended the Taiwanese people for their friendship and solidarity as the Turkish people work to overcome the adversities brought by the strong earthquake. SGDD-ASAM General Coordinator İbrahim Kavlak and Mercy Corps Country Director for Syria Kieren Barnes also addressed the press conference. They thanked the government and people of Taiwan for their selflessness and kindness at this time of need. They also pledged to meet Taiwan’s expectations and commit their utmost to providing necessary assistance to Turkish and Syrian survivors, ensuring that no one will be forgotten.
Also attending the press conference were Deputy Minister of the Interior Wu Jung-hui, Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lee Li-fen, Chairperson of Longshan Temple Huang Shu-wei, Deputy Superintendent of the Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital Hong Tzi-ren, Chairperson of the Shin Kong Bank Cultural and Educational Foundation Wang Yu-yuan, Deputy Executive Director of the Shin Kong Life Foundation Chen Yen-ming, and Executive Director of the Foundation for Disaster Relief Wu Xin-long.
MOFA again thanks the Taiwanese people for the compassion and concern they have shown in the wake of the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria, transforming Taiwan into a force for warmth and good in the global community. MOFA will stay abreast of the implementation of assistance programs and provide updates on its official website to uphold the public’s trust. (E)