Avellon Williams
TAIWAN— On Tuesday (July 12), Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs pledged to contribute US$500,000 (NT$15 million) to the reconstruction of Haiti after a devastating earthquake hit in 2021.
With the help of the Relieve Disaster Foundation, Taiwan will help its Caribbean ally with agricultural production in order to avoid a food crisis and improve the livelihoods of the people.
On Aug. 14, 2021, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Haiti, killing more than 2,200 and injuring more than 12,000, leaving over 650,000 homeless. As a result of this disaster, millions are now in a state of food insecurity due to another devastating tropical storm, Grace.
As part of this year-long initiative, funds will be used to restore Haiti’s rice farming capacity through infrastructure investment. As a result of the effort, jobs will be created, which will potentially contribute to the elimination of hunger, the development of agriculture, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 66 years ago, the two countries have been cooperating in agriculture, energy, healthcare, infrastructure, humanitarian aid, and sustainable development. It demonstrates that “Taiwan can help and is helping,” according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
