Taiwan to distribute essential supplies to L.A. wildfire victims

Los Angeles, Jan. 11 (CNA) Taiwan's representative office in Los Angeles will assist in the delivery of a private donation of essential supplies to people impacted by ongoing wildfires in California, officials with the office said Saturday.

According to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles, staff on Saturday sent out 10,000 N95 masks and three boxes of protective goggles which they had received from a Taiwanese donor.

The office said it will work with Tzu Chi USA, the American branch of the Taiwan-based Buddhist Tzu Chi Charity Foundation, to deliver the supplies to relief workers and victims of the disaster, which has destroyed approximately 10,000 buildings and displaced 150,000 people.

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles Deputy Director Chen Ling-hsin (陳令欣) said that the office has been paying close attention to the wildfires.

She reminded overseas Taiwanese who plan to travel to California to pay attention to disaster information for their own safety.

Air quality is poor and people sensitive to air pollution should wear masks, Chen advised.

Debra Boudreaux (曾慈慧), CEO of Tzu Chi USA, said that the charity has set up a care center to provide shelter for residents in the disaster area.

The charity has also sent volunteers to three large shelters to visit the victims and provide blankets, clothing, N95 masks, food and other essentials, Boudreaux added.

Boudreaux said that in addition to residents directly affected by the disaster, many people in the greater Los Angeles area are facing psychological trauma and will need long-term support.

The Buddhist charity has contacted a spiritual counseling center in Los Angeles to provide assistance, she added.