Thousands–Including Many Visitors–Volunteer In Taiwan To Help Flood Victims Following Typhoon

Thousands–Including Many Visitors–Volunteer In Taiwan To Help Flood Victims Following Typhoon

Taiwan society has mobilized in response to flooding after a typhoon made landfill on the East Asian island, including visitors and foreign residents.

With those arriving with rainboots and shovels dubbed “Shovel Supermen” and those arriving to cook meals for those whose homes were destroyed dubbed “Cooking Supermen,” it’s a touching and inspiring example of an all-hands-on-deck response to disaster.

Typhoon Ragasa made landfall last Tuesday, causing heavy rains in Hualien County and causing local water sources to overflow. Flooding and mudslides have displaced hundreds of residents, particularly in Guangfu Township.

In response, thousands of volunteers have streamed south, shovels and rainboots in hand, to help. The Buddhist charity Tzu Chi managed to co-opt 3,000 volunteers by the following Saturday.

Others brought food and portable kitchen supplies to cook food for volunteers and victims alike.

Heading southward in extra trains mobilized by Taiwan Railway Corp., the volunteers included two Ukrainian women who had lived in Taiwan for 9 years, and a Japanese resident Saito Tadataka.

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One of the Ukrainians had actually planned on visiting Hualien County, and when seeing it underwater, felt compelled to help. Mr. Saito too felt he had to act when he saw the number of other volunteers using their 3-day weekend time to help their countrymen.

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The county government turned over the coordination of the relief efforts to Tzu Chi, while enlisting the national government to identify hotel and lodging businesses who would be able and willing to house those displaced to ensure emergency shelters aren’t overwhelmed.

Displaced residents are being given a government stipend to pay for essential supplies while relief efforts are ongoing.