Oblation Aid for Taiwan

Typhoon Nari hit Taiwan, Republic of China, on Sunday, September 16, and left 32 inches of rain in its wake in only a few days. Floodwaters and landslides devastated city life and agriculture in Taipei. “Hundreds of houses have been destroyed, thousands of homes and businesses wiped out by flooding, and a significant portion of the infrastructure of the city of Taipei has been damaged,” reported Appointee Steve Shields who arrived in Taipei a couple of days before the storm.

A donation of $7,000 was sent from the Community of Christ Oblation Fund to the Red Cross in Taiwan, which is coordinating the relief effort. Shields said, “Several friends of the church suffered from the flood, but as far as we know no church members were adversely affected.” Congregation leaders are helping these friends of the church from their local resources.

In the wake of Typhoon Nari, more than 820,000 homes were without electricity and that number remained in the hundreds of thousands several days after the typhoon, then a tropical storm, continued with wind and rain. The storm also disrupted household water service and shut down the train system, which is essential in this densely populated city where people rely heavily on public transit.

This year has been storm-filled for Taiwan. In July, Typhoon Toraji killed more than 100 residents and other typhoons are expected to move their way. Approximately 100 people died at the hands of Typhoon Nari.