Taiwan assists with wildfire relief efforts

_{Photo: (left) Amalia Mai, Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, and Her Excellency Lily Li-Wen Hsu, Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Belize.}

By Charles Gladden

Belize City, Thursday, June 20, 2024

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the National Emergency Response Organization have received generous funding from the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to mitigate the impact of recent wildfires in western and southern Taiwan.

The rainy season has arrived, but readers may remember the previous article AmandalaNumerous wildfires have broken out in the region throughout May, reportedly caused by farmers using slash-and-burn methods. These fires were left uncontrolled, resulting in many acres of forest being burned. The wildfires were also caused by the crazy heat wave and very little rainfall that Belize experienced in May.

Several similar incidents occurred in the village of San Pedro Colombia in the Toledo District, where the fire spread about three miles, burning everything in its path. In addition, an estimated 32% of the vegetation in Pine Ridge Mountain in the Cayo District was destroyed by wildfire.

The impact of the wildfires in the south has forced the Belize government to activate its natural disaster program, pledging $1 million to help fire victims. The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has also pledged to help fire victims recover, donating $100,000 in Belize dollars to relief efforts.

The donation will help the Belizean government purchase essential resources such as seeds, seedlings and other vital supplies that are critical to helping farmers and their communities recover and rebuild affected areas.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Amalia Mai, and the National Emergency Coordinator, Retired Captain Daniel Mendez, accepted the donation on behalf of the Government of Belize from the Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Belize, Her Excellency Hsu Li-wen.