AmeriCares is preparing an emergency shipment of essential medicines and supplies to support volunteer doctors helping survivors of Typhoon Morakot in Taiwan. The storm’s death toll is expected to exceed 500. Thousands more have been affected by catastrophic flooding and mudslides from the typhoon’s wake.

Since Typhoon Morakot made landfall on August 7, AmeriCares has been reaching out to relief groups in Taiwan, mainland China and the Philippines to assess their needs and offer assistance. In Taiwan – the hardest hit - AmeriCares is working with a local aid organization to supply them with medicines and medical supplies to support their mobile medical teams. The airlift of relief supplies is slated to arrive in Taiwan early next week.

AmeriCares disaster relief for survivors of Typhoon Morakot includes antibiotics to treat infections, pain medicines and wound care supplies for the injured. The basic medicines and supplies will be used by mobile medical teams in remote areas where they may be the only source of health care for survivors.

Remote and mountainous regions of Taiwan were the hardest hit by the devastating typhoon. Many of the injured remain trapped in isolated villages and can’t get help. Roads and bridges have been washed out. Hundreds of survivors may still be buried under mountains of mud.

To reach survivor’s in desperate need, the volunteer doctors will use all-terrain vehicles, boats and motor bikes – even pack animals - to get as far into the mountains as possible. Many of the dedicated doctors and health workers will then have to walk miles to finally reach the communities that need help.

While Taiwan is not a typical aid recipient, AmeriCares has delivered medical aid to Taiwan in response to catastrophic disasters. In 1999, AmeriCares send over $1 million worth of medical aid and disaster relief to Taiwan in response to a devastating earthquake that killed over 2,000 people. 

To learn more or find out how to help, visit www.americares.org/typhoon_morakot