Envoy injured, one man missing in Haiti quake
Updated: 2010-01-14 07:38
(HK Edition)
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Members of a rescue team, including two search-and-rescue dogs, are assembled at the Taipei City Fire Department headquarters yesterday as the captain gives instructions for the imminent mission in Haiti. The team left for the quake-hit Carribean country last night. CNA |
TAIPEI: Taiwan's envoy to Haiti was injured, but was in stable condition, and one Taiwanese businessman was unaccounted for after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit Haiti, a "Ministry of Foreign Affairs" (MOFA) spokesman said yesterday.
Hsu Mien-sheng, Taiwan's envoy to the Caribbean country, sustained a broken bone and an employee suffered a minor back injury, but was in good condition, while all Taiwan passport holders in Haiti are safe, except for one businessman, who was reported missing, said MOFA spokesman James Chang.
Chang said an inter-agency task force has been established to coordinate rescue efforts and donations, as Taiwan's government plans to dispatch rescue teams and humanitarian supplies as soon as possible, with the first rescue team having been scheduled to leave for Haiti last night.
Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou and "Premier" Wu Den-yih extended condolences to victims in the Caribbean nation, Chang said.
There are currently around 30 Taiwanese passport holders in Haiti, including four or five businessmen, 13 members of a technical mission and diplomats, Chang said.
With communications erratic in some regions, the MOFA is still trying to get in touch with the missing businessman, he said.
The two-story building of Taiwan's diplomatic mission in Port-au-Prince collapsed in the quake, he added.
Mario Chouloute, Haiti's envoy to Taiwan, told the media that Haiti is looking for Taiwan's help with efforts to provide camping equipment, rescue teams and medical assistance.
MOFA has instructed Taiwan's diplomatic mission in the Dominican Republic, which shares a border with Haiti, to collect information on damage and offer as much assistance as possible, Chang said.
Officials at the Taipei City Fire Department said that a rescue team from the city is ready to depart for Haiti whenever necessary to help with earthquake response efforts.
Meanwhile, World Vision Taiwan, a non-governmental organization currently providing aid for 7,500 children in four regional programs in Haiti, said it is still gathering information about damage and casualties and is in close contact with the MOFA, the Red Cross Society and World Vision Haiti.
China Daily/CNA
(HK Edition 01/14/2010 page2)