action yesterday by calling for financial donations and providing emergency assistance to victims affected by the deadly 7.9-magnitude quake that struck China's southwestern province of Sichuan on Monday. He took the lead by making a personal donation of NT$200,000 and called for the launch of humanitarian charter flights to transport Taiwan's relief goods to the disaster area.
When donating the money from his own pocket at the Red Cross Society (RCS) of the Republic of China, he encouraged the people in Taiwan to donate both money and relief goods to the people in need.
Ma urged the government and civil groups to offer the relevant assistance needed in China in relief resources and rescue missions.
The existing humanitarian charter flight service across the Taiwan Strait, which has heretofore been used to transport Taiwanese patients directly back for emergency medical treatment here, is a ready channel and it should be kicked into action to take rescue and medical teams as well as relief goods to China, Ma said.
Despite the disruption of the transport system at the disaster area, Ma said the relief goods can be gathered at designated centers near the devastated districts.
Ma has contacted Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin to send the well trained rescue and medical team to China.
He said many charity and religious organizations in Taiwan, including the Red Cross, World Vision Taiwan,
Fo Guang Shan, the Tzu Chi Foundation, Dharma Drum Mountain, and Ling Jiou Mountain, have also mobilized their volunteers to pitch in all support efforts.
He appealed to the government to help coordinate the efforts of diverse groups for the maximum effect.
Outgoing President Chen Shui-bian and Premier Chang Chun-hsiung offered their condolences to the families of the more than 10,000 victims of the disaster, the worst earthquake to hit China in three decades.
"Taiwan is willing to cooperate with the international community to participate in disaster relief and reconstruction work," Chen said in a statement.
Chang said Taiwan was prepared to send rescue teams and provide humanitarian aid to China.
The premier said the government is also concerned about the fate of Taiwan's businessmen, students and tourists in China, and called on Chinese authorities to help protect Taiwanese citizens and offer them any necessary assistance.
Chang said that he has instructed the Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) to coordinate all relevant matters and has asked the semiofficial Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) to contact its Chinese counterpart, the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), and take charge of all relief operations.
Reciprocal support
Chen Charng-ven, president of the RCS in Taiwan, said his organization has contacted its Red Cross counterpart in China after the earthquake occurred to learn about the disaster situation and offer aid.
The RCS itself donated US$300,000 to its Chinese counterpart to be used in the rescue mission, Chen said.
He called on the public to back the reciprocal supporting effort and contribute relief materials including sleeping bags, blankets, and tents to help China's people in disaster areas.
Chen reminded the Taiwanese public that China's people donated over US$3 million to Taiwan through the RCS to help Taiwanese cope with the deadly 921 earthquake that struck central Taiwan in 1999.
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