wfn.org | TCN: Tsou tribe in Alishan region cope after typhoon

["Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>]

>Taiwan Church News

>2999 Edition

>August 17~23, 2009

Tsou tribe in Alishan region cope after typhoon

>Reported by Chen Wei-jien

>Written by Lydia Ma

Because of Typhoon Morakot, PCT churches lost contact with Tsou  District

aborigines on the morning of August 9th. Messages from Tsou  District offices

about the destruction brought by the typhoon were finally relayed  on August 12th

through a helicopter that had been dispatched to send aid to the  area.

Torrential rains swamped all the main roads in most towns and 70%  of small

roads connecting neighborhoods were inaccessible because they were  buried

by mudslides. About 80% of bridges inside tribal reserves were  also washed

away. Communication with the outside world was slowly  re-established after

>August 11th.

According to reports on damages caused by Typhoon Morakot in Tsou  District, 2 people are missing, 20 houses have been washed away, and  three neighborhoods do not have access to drinking water. In terms of  agricultural losses, all of the region's produce for this season has  been destroyed and the ground cannot be cultivated for the second season  of this year.

Alishan region is known for its tea leaves, but 30% of the land  used for cultivating

tea leaves has been destroyed by the typhoon. In addition, the  fall and winter

harvest of tea leaves will now be further hampered by collapsed  bridges.

Though all church buildings in the area are still standing, the  livelihoods of

Christians and residents in the area will become a major concern  in the next year

and many people will face unprecedented financial struggles.

According to PCT Tsou District General Secretary Mo’e  Peongsi, damages

unleashed by Typhoon Morakot far exceed damages brought by another  severe

flood on August 7th fifty years ago. Morakot has now replaced that  flood as the

worst flood in Taiwanese history. Though government agencies are  salvaging

major infrastructures such as telecommunication lines, electrical  power lines,

medical centers, and roads, meeting other urgent needs such  medical treatment,

relief services, relocation plans, and provision of daily  necessities will require the

>help of local churches.

Because so many roads are blocked, social organizations and  churches will

most likely need to partner with government agencies to airlift  resources into

disaster areas. Tsou District has already listed its needs to PCT  General

Assembly, focusing on material resources such as food and drinking  water and

>providing assistance to local pastoral staff.

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