wfn.org | TCN: PCT continues to help displaced victims settle down

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

>      Taiwan Church News

>3000 Edition

>August 24~30, 2009

PCT continues to help displaced victims settle down

>Reported by Lin Yi-ying

>Written by Lydia Ma

The PCT has been wholly involved in rescue and reconstruction  efforts after

Typhoon Morakot. PCT General Assembly Moderator Leonard Lin and  General

Secretary Andrew Chang travelled to Kaohsiung County on August  21st to meet

Kaohsiung County Department of Social Affairs Bureau Chief Wu  Li-hsueh to

coordinate joint efforts. Leaders from both sides agreed to follow  guidelines set

by Ministry of Interior, with the PCT playing a supporting role to  local

governments, as both sought the maximum amount of benefits for  victims

displaced to temporary shelters. They hope the government will  allocate lands for

victims to rebuild their homes and consider letting PCT lead  actual rebuilding

>efforts.

>Churches shelter more than 50% of victims

According to PCT statistics collected before August 24th, a total  of $28,000,000

NTD in donations for flood victims had been deposited into a  PCT’s special

account for Typhoon Morakot relief. Furthermore, a total of 1,534  victims had

been placed at various shelters set up by the PCT in Southern  Taiwan. If victims

housed by Seventh-Day Adventist Church, True Jesus Church, and the  Catholic

Church were factored in, an additional 369 victims have been  helped by

churches. This means that of the 3,753 typhoon victims in shelters  across

Kaohsiung County, more than 50%, or 1,903 people, have been housed  by

>Christian churches.

On August 15th, 3 more churches from Tainan Presbytery became  temporary

shelters for typhoon victims, namely, Rende, Kueijen, and Yujing  churches. On

August 19th, Bible Society in Taiwan and PCT joined forces to  distribute 500

Bunun language Bibles to 11 shelters to encourage typhoon victims.

In Alishan region, delegates from a Korean NGO, including Rev. Koo  Duk Soo,

Ms. Oh Jungeun, Ms. Kim Minyoung, arrived on August 20th to  deliver 500

packages containing relief items to victims in Alishan. PCT  leaders

accompanied these delegates into Alishan region the following day  to conduct a

simple ceremony before Atayal youth carried these items to  aboriginal reserves

>in Dalin and Leyeh.

Cishan and Alishan stations both received donations totalling  $200,000 NTD

>from Taipei Presbytery on August 21st.

PCT cooperates with public agencies in reconstruction efforts

To discuss the best way to coordinate efforts related to assisting  temporary

shelters and rebuilding homes for typhoon victims, PCT General  Assembly and

PCT local leaders visited Kaohsiung County Department of Social  Affairs

Bureau Chief Wu Li-hsueh on August 21st. Wu promised that all  churches helping

with rescue efforts by providing temporary shelters will receive  financial aid from

the government to cover food expenses and gas, electricity, and  phone bills.

PCT General Assembly and government agencies agreed to appoint  Rev. E Ju-

tang from Fongshan Presbyterian Church as chief coordinator  between PCT and

government agencies. E will also become a member of the committee  in charge

of reviewing and allocating financial donations received for  Typhoon Morakot

rescue and relief efforts. This position will allow PCT to stay  tuned to government

>rebuilding efforts.

According to reports, victims whose houses have been destroyed by  the typhoon

can choose between renting a house, purchasing a house, or waiting  for

government allocation of housing – all of which will receive  partial government

aid. Victims who have found shelter with friends or relatives are  also eligible for

>subsidies.

Commenting on lack of representation from flood victims and PCT  leaders in

Executive Yuan Rebuilding Committee and government’s  disregard for victims’

opinions throughout the rescue and rebuilding process, PCT  Moderator Leonard

Lin said he regretted the government’s attitude.

Lin also expressed PCT’s commitment to partner with Taitung  and Kaohsiung

county governments in rebuilding towns such as Chianan and  Namasiya.

“Because they are our brothers and sisters in Christ, the PCT  has the duty and

the responsibility to carry out this mission!”

Lin said he was aware the Ma administration would lean toward  giving

reconstruction projects to Buddhist Tzu-Chi organization, but PCT  would try its

best to win government reconstruction projects. It has already  contacted Habitat

for Humanity and hopes to partner with international organizations  in building new

>houses for victims.

However, Lin also stressed on the importance government agencies  footing the

bill for all reconstruction efforts and securing safe land,  because these would

make efforts by public and private agencies more effective.

Morakot Assisting and Restoring Action Committee CEO Andrew Chang

pointed out public agencies can provide victims with material aid  and housing

after the flood, but are powerless to help them rebuild  emotionally. Therefore,

PCT will focus on the emotional well-being, healing, and  rebuilding of victims.

Chang also urged government agencies to work on land preservation,  especially

in the mountain regions of Taiwan, because preventative measures  can make a

bigger difference than restorative measures and might prevent more  serious

>natural disasters in the future.

 From experiences gleaned during reconstruction efforts after 921  Earthquake,

PCT plans to work closely with government agencies when victims  are relocated

to new places based on needs and backgrounds. PCT also hopes to  involve

victims in the construction of their own new homes so that they  may develop a

sense of attachment and thus increase their willingness to  relocate and settle in

>another town.

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