Taiwan donates US$350,000 to Texas flood recovery efforts

Taipei, Aug. 22 (CNA) Taiwan has donated US$350,000 to support recovery efforts in Texas after severe flooding in the state in July left more than 100 people dead, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Friday.

In a news statement, MOFA said the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Houston formally presented the funds to the OneStar Foundation, a local nonprofit recommended by Texas authorities to coordinate disaster relief, during a ceremony on Thursday.

MOFA said the donation was aimed at helping communities adversely affected by the recent floods rebuild and reconstruct so people could return to normal life.

Central Texas was struck over the Fourth of July weekend by catastrophic flash floods, unleashed after days of torrential rains.

According to MOFA, the donation was made under the instruction of Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍), who conveyed condolences to the victims' families shortly after the disaster and expressed the Taiwanese government's intention to offer assistance.