Taiwan Today

The Republic of China (Taiwan) government expressed Aug. 9 its sympathies for Central American diplomatic ally Belize in the wake of Hurricane Earl and announced a donation of US$100,000 to assist with reconstruction. This support is in keeping with the close friendship between the nations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, adding that the ROC Embassy in Belize City is monitoring the situation and liaising with officials to ensure the country gets back on its feet as soon as possible. According to the MOFA, the embassy implemented disaster mitigation measures before the hurricane made landfall, including setting up an emergency response team and maintaining close contact with Taiwan expatriates. The category 1 hurricane lashed Belize Aug. 3-4 with winds of up to 130 kph and heavy rains. The former capital Belize City—along with Caye Caulker, Ladyville and San Pedro—was the hardest hit, suffering power and water cuts, road closures and flooding to more than 2,100 homes. In addition, the country’s agriculture sector was severely affected. Ruined crops and damaged equipment will impact exports and national economy, as well as threaten farmers’ livelihoods in the short to mid term. ROC-Belize relations have been going from strength to strength since their establishment in 1989, with steady advances notched up in cultural, economic and tourism cooperation. (WF-E) Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw