Taitung St. Mary’s Hospital News Report                    August 11, 2009

HUALIEN DIOCESE “88 Flood And Recostruction Team”

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Typhoon Morakot brought torrential rain and caused severe damage. Taitung and southern part of Taimali received such a heavy blow, so much so that, it will take a long time and a lot of money to have it recovered. The roads are washed away communications are cut off. Reports of casualties are still coming in. So far, Chia-Lan village of Taimali suffer most. Fifty seven (57) houses were flushed into the river; the number of the refugees numbered187; several houses of our our colleagues in the hospital fell and two of them are missing, losing contact. Fifty-one (51) cases of our house-personnel were unable to to get in touch with us, which maked us worry so much. On August 10, we went deep into the worst area in Chia-lan, and were shocked to see that the bridges were washed off and only a small route is left to make connection with the outside world.

On August 8, our Bishop, Philip Huang, invited those responsible for different Catholic organizations to meet at the Parish Church of Taimali and a working group of “88 Flood Rescue and Reconstruction” was formed and work was arranged as follows:

1.      Livelihood settlement  Taimali Parish Church is responsible to understand and evaluate the situation and needs of the refugees, and to distribute the rescue material as to priority.

2.      Medical and mental services:  St. Mary’s Hospital is responsible to provide medical services and transference, evaluation and management of high risky group with symptons of pressure from post-injury; Psychiatrists and experts in various kinds of treatment will be arranged to the severely injured regularly.

3.      Prayer and care: Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross are responsible to go to the refugee center every morning at 10 o’clock to pray and offer support of team spirit.

My dear friends, reconstruction is a long way and we need the help of all of you.

All the fund is used for specific purposes, to settle their daily life and reconstruct their houses as priority. Receipts from our Diocese can be rebated.

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