Taiwan donates US$61,000 to cyclone-hit Tuvalu

Taipei, March 17 (CNA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Tuesday it was donating 80,000 Australian dollars (US$61,000) to help Tuvalu recover from damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Pam which hit the Pacific country last week.

Reports from Tuvalu said almost half of the island country's population had been displaced by Cyclone Pam.

Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga was quoted as saying most people living on the outer islands had been severely affected, with houses and crops being washed away and at least one island being entirely flooded.

Tuvalu has a population of 9,876 at the last census in 2013.

MOFA said it has asked Tuvalu Embassy officials in Taipei to convey the government's concerns to their home government.

Tuvalu had offered assistance to Taiwan when a severe typhoon hit southern Taiwan in Aug. 2009, according to MOFA.