Taiwan donates additional US$355,722 for Indonesian post-quake relief

Jakarta, April 30 (CNA) Taiwan's government donated an additional US$355,722 to Indonesia Tuesday to help with school reconstruction efforts in the wake of a magnitude 7.5 earthquake that hit the island of Sulawesi Sept. 28, 2018, triggering a tsunami that left about 2,200 people dead.

Taiwan's representative to Indonesia, Chen Chung (陳忠), made the donation in Jakarta on behalf of Taiwan's government.

The donation was personally received by Ginandjar Kartasasmita, acting chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross Society, and will be used to aid the rebuilding of two schools in areas affected by the natural disaster.

At least 2,200 people were killed and 10,000 injured as a result of the earthquake and tsunami last year.

Taiwan's public and private sectors have previously donated about US$2.35 million to assist post-disaster relief efforts and aid the reconstruction of homes affected by the catastrophe, Chen said.

Taiwan's government decided to make the additional US$355,722 donation to support Indonesia's relief efforts and help victims resume a normal life as soon as possible.

According to the Indonesian Red Cross Society, about 1,200 schools, more than 260,000 students and 17,000 teachers were affected by the natural disaster and the society's top task is to rebuild schools damaged by the quake and tsunami, including five in Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi, three in Donggala, and two in Sigi.