The earthquake that struck Haiti near to Port-au-Prince on January 12 caused widespread destruction to housing, and massive casualties and loss of life.
The TaiwanICDF reacted to the disaster within hours. As part of our response, we have cooperated with World Vision Taiwan to distribute emergency relief materials among earthquake survivors.
Through the cooperation with World Vision Taiwan, a flight via Dubai was able to land at Santo Domingo International Airport in the Dominican Republic on January 24. Staff from the ROC embassy in the Dominican Republic and members of the TaiwanICDF technical mission were on hand to help unload the plane, and from there, the materials would be able enter the wider World Vision International network.
The US$800,000-worth of emergency materials – including family tents, instant food rations, water purification equipment and hygiene kits fitted to last a family of five for one month – arrived in Haiti via safe escort on February 3. By conservative estimates, 1,800 high-quality tents will provide shelter for around 9,000 people. All told, these supplies will benefit up to 20,000 people.
Through its existing base and connections in Haiti, World Vision International is also paying local people to work within its distribution network, so that survivors have an opportunity to work. This is a rapid and stable way of supporting survivors and the wider community. This distribution of relief materials from Haitians to Haitians has been made possible by donations from ordinary Taiwanese people (US$700,000) and the TaiwanICDF (US$100,000), while the success of the program relies on the planning, logistical and operational expertise of World Vision International.

• Update: 2010/12/31
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