Typhoon Danas relief drive concludes with NT$539 million in donations

Taipei, Aug. 21 (CNA) The Taiwan Foundation for Disaster Relief on Thursday said an account set up on July 21 to solicit private donations for Typhoon Danas disaster relief closed Wednesday, with a total of NT$539 million (US$17.66 million) received.

The foundation said the funds will be used to support disaster relief, emergency medical aid, shelter, resettlement, and post-disaster recovery efforts.

According to a Thursday press release from the foundation, over 30,000 transfers were made, surpassing the original NT$500 million goal.

Of the donations, 98 transfers were of NT$1 million and over, according to the foundation, adding that a total of NT$440,906,000 came from state-owned businesses affiliated with Taiwan's Ministry of Finance.

The foundation said NT$200 million will be provided to local municipalities in central and southern Taiwan to help around 5,000 families with a range of issues, including fatalities, missing persons, severe injuries, flooding, property rental and relocation.

Meanwhile, NT$330 million will be used to help around 1,100 households belonging to certain underprivileged groups such as those with physical disabilities, low-income senior citizen or single senior citizens.

In addition, NT$50 million will be given in the form of financial support for about 200 disadvantaged families, to help lessen the financial burden from the disaster.

As the total amount of payments comes to NT$580 million, the foundation said it would use its own finances on top of the NT$539 million to cover the difference.

Typhoon Danas made landfall in Chiayi County's Budai Township on July 6, causing power outages, water supply disruptions, property damage and flooding in central and southern Taiwan.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare launched a dedicated account on July 21 to solicit private donations for disaster relief.