Meat dishes are a big hit with typhoon victims moving into the Fenghsiung barracks in Kaohsiung county yesterday. CNA

TAIPEI: A military barracks notice posting dos and don'ts has created a buzz of irritation among some victims of Typhoon Morakot, who were relocated from temporary shelters yesterday.

Posted in the Fenghsiung barracks in Kaohsiung is a list of 12 rules. The list stipulates when people can eat and when they can sleep.

The restrictions touched off a protest during a ceremony as typhoon victims were being moved into the barracks yesterday morning.

The civilian typhoon survivors said they don't want to be treated like soldiers.

"If we don't make it clear today, I'm afraid we'll have no chance to see an official," said one of the typhoon victims.

Deputy chief of "national defense" Chao Shih-chang responded that the military has no intention of imposing rules and the notices were posted only to inform the new residents of the regular timetable at the barracks.

Their wishes will be respected and revisions can be made, Chao said.

Not all of the typhoon refugees were unhappy about the move.

An aboriginal from Taoyuan county said his wife and five children can now live together with him in their room for eight. "There's more space and the ventilation is better," he said.

The barracks also has prepared a playground for kids and a rest area for adults. A smoking area was designated.

Medical personnel from E-da Hospital are on hand at the barracks to provide 24-hour service.

The happiest among the newly located group probably are those who have lived on vegetarian diets in shelters set up by Buddhist organizations. Many of them were wearing smiles when the meat dishes were served at lunchtime at the barracks.

Typhoon victims at 30 temporary shelters in Kaohsiung started to move to four military barracks yesterday.

The relocation aims to give a better living environment to the typhoon victims and to prevent the spread of A (H1N1) influenza.

Kaohsiung County Magistrate Yang Chiu-hsing said earlier he hopes the relocation can be completed by August 31.

According to the county government, around 3,000 people can be accommodated at the military barracks, each of which has accommodation for four, six or eight people.

The first to move into barracks were those previously sheltered at the Fokuanshan Monastery and other local temples.

Wu Li-shueh, director of Kaohsiung's county department of social affairs, said that the new housing arrangements will enable displaced people to live together with their families and fellow villagers. Children will be able to take the same school bus as their regular schoolmates when the fall term begins.

Many of the shelter residents were unable to go home because roads to their home villages were destroyed by the storm. The typhoon refugees will be able to leave their temporary billets as soon as roads are reopened, she added.

China Daily

(HK Edition 08/28/2009 page2)