World Vision is working hard to meet children’s needs after Typhoon Morakot caused flooding and mudslides around the country on August 7 and 8.

“Many children and families have had their homes and livelihoods swept away,” says Hank Du, Executive Director for World Vision Taiwan. “We will work quickly to restore hope for children who have lost everything.”

Natural disasters such as typhoons leave children vulnerable to danger of all kinds. Minor injuries can become life-threatening without medical attention. Even after the ground stabilizes and floodwaters subside, fallen buildings and destroyed homes pose safety hazards to children who are left unsupervised.

Within days of Typhoon Morakot, World Vision launched the first of eight child-friendly spaces to keep children busy in safe locations.  Through games, songs, arts and crafts, World Vision staff and volunteers provide a comfortable environment for kids to play.  So far, 280 children are participating.  Two more child-friendly spaces will open soon, giving children the stability and routine they require to survive a crisis.

Children also need appropriate food, adequate water, sanitation and shelter as soon as possible after a disaster. Without these basics, they may be exposed to harsh elements and their immunity to disease vastly reduced. They may also lose all sense of safety of normalcy, especially if they lost relatives in the disaster.

World Vision Taiwan had a significant infrastructure even before the typhoon, especially in remote areas.  Since relief goods were already pre-positioned in many of the affected areas, staff could respond immediately after the typhoon with food, clean water and basic hygiene kits.

World Vision has been serving in Taiwan since 1964, when its responsibilities included caring for orphans and lepers in remote regions.