The Republic of China (Taiwan) government extends its sincere condolences to those affected by Hurricane Irma and is ready and willing to assist ROC diplomatic allies in the Caribbean with relief and reconstruction efforts.
“As a reliable and trustworthy partner, the ROC always provides the allies with emergency humanitarian aid and supports post-disaster recovery work,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Sept. 9 in a statement. “It is of paramount importance for homes to be rebuilt and communities to return to everyday life as soon as possible.”
According to the MOFA, the nation’s embassies in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and St. Kitts and Nevis are liaising with the governments of these countries to determine their needs. All three ROC allies suffered flooding, power outages, and damage and destruction to homes and infrastructure, as well as injured and missing nationals, after Irma ripped through the region as a Category 5 storm over four days late last week.
President Tsai Ing-wen also reached out to those impacted by the hurricane. In a tweet on her official Twitter account, she said her thoughts are with people in Irma-affected areas and urged them to stay safe.
One of the most powerful hurricanes recorded in the Atlantic Ocean, Irma made landfall early Sept. 10 Eastern Daylight Time in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm, and again later the same day at Marco Island off the southwest coast of Florida as a Category 3.
Forecasters are now monitoring Hurricane Jose, which is northeast of Grand Turk Island and moving northwest over the Caribbean. It is a Category 3 storm with winds between 178 and 208 kph, according to the five-category Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. (JSM)