Two German search and rescue nongovernmental organizations opened branch offices March 12 in central Taiwan’s Taichung City to promote exchanges and training cooperation with local counterparts.
International Search and Rescue Germany and the German Search and Rescue Dog Association (BRH) are the first overseas groups to take up residency at the future site of the International Non-governmental Organization Center in Taichung’s Wufeng District. The facility, slated for completion in four years, is a joint initiative between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and city government aimed at strengthening ties between local and foreign NGOs.
Speaking at the opening ceremony for the offices, Vice President Chen Chien-jen described I.S.A.R. and BRH as among the oldest and most impactful Germany-based disaster relief groups. Their commitment to strengthening humanitarian aid around the world is shared by Taiwan NGOs, he said, adding that increased collaboration will bolster expertise on both sides.
According to Chen, the vibrant local NGO sector is a source of great pride for the people of Taiwan. Nongovernmental groups play a vital role in advancing the nation’s diplomacy and deepening its international participation, he said.
Echoing the vice president’s remarks, Taichung Mayor Lin Chia-lung said expanded collaboration between domestic search and rescue groups and the German organizations will enhance Taiwan’s contributions to overseas relief efforts. Going forward, the NGO center will open the door to further such exchanges and raise the city’s profile as a hub of humanitarian aid work, he added.
BRH is the largest search and rescue dog NGO in Germany. The organization dispatched teams in response to one of Taiwan’s most catastrophic natural disasters—the magnitude 7.3 Jiji Earthquake that struck the central county of Nantou Sept. 21, 1999. I.S.A.R. was the first NGO to be certified and approved by the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group under the U.N.
According to the MOFA, the robust ties between the two groups and local NGOs underscore the strong and enduring friendship between Taiwan and Germany. The government will continue to encourage foreign groups in such areas as disaster relief, health care, human rights and social welfare to set up offices in Taiwan with the goal of transforming the nation into a regional center for NGO operations, the ministry said. (KWS-E)
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