Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Republic of China (Taiwan) has expresed its willingness to assist victims of last Friday storm that wreaked havoc on homes and infrastructure, leaving 6 481 people directly affected.
Taiwan Embassy’s Minister (Deputy Ambassador) Ching Lin Tsui said they were ready to assist the country even in cases of disaster, humanitarian aid and charity, courtesy of the cordial relations spanning over five decades.
He said they would continuously assist in effective development of both government and other organisations in the kingdom.
“We will continue to support Eswatini to show love from Taiwan. Our Embassy is willing to also assist in humanitarian aid. We have already donated towards the reconstruction fund, if there is any form of assistance required specifically for the storm victims, government will liaise with the embassy,” said Tsui during presentation of 120 bags of rice to Mbabane East Member of Parliament Welcome Dlamini at SAGM Primary School yesterday.
One person was reported to have died in the storm with 23 injured, leaving 10 125 homesteads and 21 schools damaged.
The commitment by Taiwan to offer assistance followed formation of a committee by Senate headed by Deputy Senate President, Ndumiso Mdluli.
When explaining what prompted formation of the committee, Senate President Lindiwe Dlamini confided that she had been touched by what she saw when visiting some of the affected families, especially at Ngculwini on Sunday.
The senate president said the situation was dire to the extent that some of the affected homesteads still had not received any form of assistance by yesterday and were left in the cold.
Dlamini said she had also received feedback from Deputy Prime Minister, Thuli Dladla, that there was an urgent need for any form of assistance.
She further disclosed that the DPM had delivered food items and also gave some of the victims’ money from her own pocket as a measure to assist where possible due to the extent of the damage.
Some of the affected areas include Mafutseni, Ngculwini, Gundvwini and Kubuta. Personal property, including vehicles, homes, livestock sheds, businesses and crops were also damaged. The storm also caused significant damage to 19 schools with windows and roofs being the most affected.
The schools include Mhubhe High and St Philomena Primary, both situated in Ngculwini. Windows were also broken and the roofing destroyed with classrooms, teachers’ houses, school kitchens and other property also extensively damaged.
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