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China - Taiwan Province

AmeriCares Relief Effort in Taiwan: Update 22 Oct 1999

Situation: More than 2,100 people were killed and over 8,000 more injured in Taiwan's strongest earthquake. Hundreds are still trapped in the rubble after the 7.6-magnitude quake toppled apartments, homes, hotels and other buildings across central Taiwan. More than 100,000 Taiwanese are homeless, many afraid to go indoors for fear of additional aftershocks. The quake was about the same strength as the one that shattered Turkey on August 17th.
Response: AmeriCares and Northwest Airlines joined forces to deliver over 8,000 pounds of relief supplies to Taipai, Taiwan, just four days after the devastating earthquake. Antibiotics, bandages, blankets, nutritional supplements, sutures, syringes and other relief materials departed on a Northwest 747 all cargo freighter aircraft, arriving in Taiwan on Saturday, September 25th at 12 p.m. local time. Northwest Airlines generously donated the cargo space for this relief airlift. Upon arrival in Taiwan, AmeriCares' supplies were immediately delivered to local hospitals and medical clinics. AmeriCares Project Director Anita Siu advanced the relief shipment. An additional airlift with 44,000 pounds of medicines and nutritional supplements is scheduled to depart this week.

Credentials: AmeriCares is registered with the U.S. Agency for International Development (License #A0275), and we are a licensed drug wholesaler. We are also a licensed DEA Exporter (License #RA0178170). AmeriCares solicits donations of medicines, medical supplies, and other relief materials from manufacturers, and delivers them quickly and reliably to indigenous health and welfare professionals in 123 countries around the world. Financial contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations are used to defray the cost of AmeriCares' programs. All activities are funded through the private sector. Every dollar donated to AmeriCares is leveraged to deliver $23.50 worth of aid to individuals in need. Since 1982, AmeriCares has maintained an operating overhead that is less than 2%.

AmeriCares is the largest private nonprofit disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization that provides immediate response to emergency medical needs-- and supports long-term healthcare programs-- for all people around the world, irrespective of race, creed, or political persuasion.

Thousands of earthquake survivors in Taiwan need our help. Please help us to continue our relief efforts by sending your cash donations to AmeriCares, 161 Cherry Street, New Canaan, CT 06840 or by calling AmeriCares at 1.800.486.HELP.