Friday, May 9, 2008
CNA
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TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The first Taiwan relief team to obtain permission from the Myanmar military government to enter cyclone devastated areas departed for the southeastern Asian country yesterday.
The 10-member team was headed by Dharma Master Hsin Tao of the Ling Jiou Mountain Buddhist Society. The group also includes five members of International Headquarters Search and Rescue (SAR) Taiwan and four relief workers.
Hsin Tao, who was born in 1948 in Myanmar -- then known as the Union of Burma -- to parents of Chinese origin, said he "knows the assistance the country needs."
Noting that Taiwan has a lot of experience in rebuilding areas devastated by natural disasters, Hsin Tao expressed the hope of sharing Taiwan's experience and of conveying love to Myanmar.
Lu Cheng-tsung, head of SAR Taiwan, said that because of visa restrictions, the group sent only five members this time to establish a foothold.
The second group of 35 members is now on standby and is scheduled to depart for Myanmar May 12 to expand the relief operations,Lu added.
Ling Jiou Mountain Buddhist Society has set up a relief account at Taipei Fubon Bank, 715102050001, for donations to the Myanmar relief efforts, and the public can also call 02-2232-1068 to pledge donations.
Tropical Cyclone Nargis devastated Myanmar May 2-3, causing more than 22,000 deaths. More than 40,000 people are still missing five days after the storm. In one city alone -- Bogalay, about 50 miles southwest of the capital of Yangon -- over 10,000 people perished.
The storm passed directly over the densely populated and low-lying Irrawaddy River delta, causing a deadly storm surge that inundated the delta region and swept large numbers of residents to their deaths.
The military junta has been slow to issue visas to international teams and has asked for funds or material assistance instead.
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