World Vision providing assistance to families affected by Typhoon Morakot

Taipei, August 10, 2009—In the wake of Typhoon Morakot, aid organization World Vision is providing food, clean water and cleaning materials to affected households in southern Taiwan.

"The most pressing needs now are providing shelter, food, and clean water for those who have had to evacuate their homes,” says Hank Du, executive director for World Vision in Taiwan. “We also want to make sure the children are secure and have a safe place where they are cared for."

On Sunday, World Vision began providing emergency assistance to 700 people in shelters at Taimali Township, Taitung and Jiadug Township, Pingtung. In addition to food and cleaning supplies, some 684 relief kits containing flashlights, radios, raincoats, gloves, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and towels were also distributed.

World Vision had already been working in some of the affected areas for many years and pre-positioned supplies enabled a quick response to the typhoon.

Typhoon Morakot pummeled Taiwan on Aug. 7- 8 causing wide-spread damage in southern and eastern Taiwan. Although the winds of Typhoon Morakot were not as severe as expected, the storm dropped heavy amounts of rain, especially in Pingtung and Taitung which received record-breaking rainfall. Massive flooding has damaged transportation infrastructure and submerged many homes, forcing residents to evacuate and stay in shelters or find temporary housing with friends and relatives.

"Many of the affected live in remote areas and the roads are in bad condition. Highways and bridges are flooded and blocked by mudslides, fallen trees and other large debris. For those who can't reach shelters, we are working to find ways to bring aid to them," said Wesley Chen, southern area manger for World Vision.

To date, families and children in accessible World Vision program areas are safe, however, many of their homes have been damaged or destroyed. There are mountainous areas that remain cut-off from aid workers where the status of communities is still unknown.

World Vision aims to raise approximately $780,000 USD to provide emergency relief and rehabilitation support for families affected by Typhoon Morakot.


World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. We serve the world’s poor regardless of a person’s religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, please visit www.worldvision.org/press.