On September 21, 1999, a strong earthquake struck Taiwan, killing and injuring thousands, and damaged or destroyed many more buildings and homes. World Vision immediately responded by distributing food and non-food items to survivors and by assisting the displaced at shelters. The organization’s support for earthquake survivors continued into the long-term by partnering with affected communities to rebuild their homes and to ensure a secure future for children.

Key lessons from the 921 Earthquake included focus on children in the immediate aftermath of disaster through the long term, the importance of disaster preparedness to reduce the impact of future natural disasters, and the necessity of community participation during reconstruction.

Within days Typhoon Morakot slammed into south and east Taiwan, World Vision established Child Friendly Spaces to provide a safe place for children to play and begin healing from fear and other forms of psychological distress. As affected communities in Taiwan begin to rebuild, children will continue to be at the center of World Vision’s work as children centers and after school programs will be launched to support the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of children.

From World Vision’s relief experience after the 921 Earthquake, the organization was better prepared to address the immediate needs of Typhoon Morakot survivors, especially in rural mountainous areas where World Vision had worked for many years.

Prior to the Typhoon Morakot’s landfall on August 7 and 8, World Vision already had relief supplies pre-positioned in warehouses in remote areas and at regional offices throughout the south and east Taiwan. This enabled World Vision staff to rapidly start-up the emergency relief effort after the storm.

World Vision staff working in remote areas were also trained and pre-equipped with satellite phones and other wireless communication assets, which proved vital in guiding relief supplies and rescuers to mudslide survivors trapped in the mountains.

Today, World Vision is rebuilding homes in partnership with typhoon survivors and is encouraging their full participation in the entire process. Construction projects are planned and designed in consultation with beneficiary communities to ensure the cultural integrity and core values of affected indigenous groups are respected and considered. Beneficiaries are also invited to build their own homes through World Vision supported cash-for-work schemes.

About World Vision’s 921 Earthquake Response

World Vision’s 3-year response program for the 921 Earthquake response had been divided into three stages. The first stage was emergency relief from September 22 to October 31, 1999, including shelter service and distribution of food and non-food items.

The second stage from November 1 to July 31, 2001 was housing reconstruction and spiritual support, including prefabricated houses, subsidies for home building, and psychological and life rehabilitation for affected people.

World Vision’s 921 Earthquake response had special emphasis on care for child survivors. World Vision supported 6,500 child survivors and provided them with living and educational assistance through child sponsorship programs.

The third stage from August 1, 2001 to September 30, 2002 was focused on community development, including rebuilding public infrastructure, disaster preparedness and educational aid.

World Vision sponsored child Xiao Chao has overcome the tragic affects of the 921 Earthquake

Xiao Chao, living in Hsinyi Township, Nantou County, was 11 years old when the 921 Earthquake struck. The earthquake completely destroyed his home thrusting his family into deeper poverty.

Xiao Chao’s father made a simple living by farming and odd jobs. His family’s living expense, plus school tuition were already a heavy burden for his father before the earthquake.

After the earthquake, through World Vision’s livelihood subsidies, educational aid and their child sponsors’ long-term assistance, Xiao Chao and his brother were able to continue their education.

Today, Xiao Chao is a college student and hopes to pay back the generosity of his supporters by volunteering. In addition to assisting administration works and camp activities in World Vision’s area office during his summer vacations, he also volunteered to distribute relief goods in the affected areas in the wake of Typhoon Morakot.

Xiao Chao says he can easily relate to typhoon survivors and has much empathy for them. He hopes he can do more and continue to help more people in the future.

The road to recovery from the devastating affects of Typhoon Morakot is lengthy and full of challenges. World Vision has planned to invest over NT$ 1.3 billion on emergency relief and rehabilitation programs for Typhoon Morakot survivors. World Vision calls on the public to continue to care for the affected people and pledge their contributions for the long term.