Emergency relief and distribution of relief supplies

World Vision's emergency relief program was launched on August 8, involving 600 staff members and over 3,000 volunteer person times. Dry food, warm meals and 1,627 relief kits containing items such as flashing light, radio, basic medicines, raincoats, gloves, etc. have been distributed by staff and volunteers, benefiting over 5,000 displaced survivors and families whose homes were either completely destroyed or partially damaged.

Emergency shelters and Shelter Box

During the initial response stage, World Vision provided support in 46 temporary shelters in Pintung, Kaohsiung, Taitung and Chiayi counties, distributing cooked food, drinking water, basic necessities, and cleaning products.

In recent days, survivors in Kaohsiung, Pintung and Chiayi counties have been relocated to new shelter camps set up by government authorities. World Vision is now serving a total of 1,681 people in Ren-Mei Military Camp (388), Chinese Army Engineer School (437) in Kaohsiung County, Long-Quan Military Camp (430), Radio Taiwan International-Wutai Changzhi Station (131), Wutai Veterans Home (95), Ai-Liao Military Camp (150) in Pintung County, and Zhong-Zhuang Military Camp (50) in Chiayi County.

World Vision has also partnered with ShelterBox, a UK based charity organization, through Rotary International to provide relief tents to give some level of privacy to the affected families placed in the crowded, non-compartmented shelters.

To-date, 232 Shelter Boxes have been distributed – 145 in Alishan Township, Chiayi County; 27 in Maolin and Liouguei townships, Kaohsiung County; 10 in Sandimen Township, Pintung County; 50 in Dawu, Jinfong and Taimali townships, Taitung County.

Child protection

Ten (10) CFS's were set up in the hardest hit areas of Taitung, Pintung and Kaohsiung counties. In addition to World Vision social workers, more than 100 volunteer person times were also dedicated to reading with children, facilitating artistic and fun activities, and monitoring the children's healing process.

In the wake of major crises, children are often vulnerable to high levels of physical and psychological stress. They may also be left without attentive parental care as adults become busy with restoring their homes. In response, World Vision sets up Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) where children can safely engage in fun games and creative activities to express their emotions and begin healing from any distress they have suffered.

With the commencement of the new school semester in early September, CFS's will be transformed into after-school holistic development programs. Activities will be designed to help children cope with their new daily realities, social relationships and emotions, and provide courses for career planning, cultural and environmental education, and child self-protection.

World Vision plans to build about 1,200 temporary or permanent homes in Pintung, Taitung, Kaohsiung and Chiayi counties to meet the housing needs of the affected. As part of a cash-for-work scheme, beneficiaries will be invited to join the construction team to build their own homes. World Vision will also recruit volunteers to assist the most vulnerable families who cannot contribute labor.

World Vision is working with Hsieh Architect & Associates for designing the homes, and the Fu Tsu Construction Co., Ltd for consultancy. The construction is being implemented as a collaborative effort, involving cash-for-work laborers, volunteers, military personnel, architect teams, and corporate donors who are providing a portion of construction materials. The J.J. Pan and Partners, Architects and Planners will also help to rebuild public infrastructure in the affected communities.

The first cluster of temporary homes is being built in Taitung. The construction work in the other areas will soon begin after consultation with the affected communities and coordination with the authorities is complete.