Over the weekend of 8/9 August, Typhoon Morakot swept through Taiwan on its way to mainland China leaving calamitous floods in its wake. Southern Taiwan was one of the hardest-hit regions and continues to suffer mudslides as rescuers brave the treacherous conditions to search for survivors.

Evergreen Group Chairman Dr Y F Chang, who was on an overseas business trip when he heard the news, reacted quickly to the situation and instructed the Chang Yung-Fa Foundation, which he established in 1985, to provide immediate assistance.  He also curtailed his schedule in order to get back to Taiwan as quickly as possible.

On the morning of 12 August, he chaired an emergency rescue meeting and assigned responsibility for the distribution of aid and management of resources to the Chang Yung-Fa Foundation. Even by the time the meeting took place, Evergreen Group staff had started making donations of cash, food and aid materials such as clothing and blankets that needed transportation to the areas affected by the disaster.

Speaking after the meeting, Dr Chang stressed that even during the current economic downturn, Evergreen should still meet its social responsibilities and seek to help those people in need, both immediately and over the longer term.  He announced that he would make a personal donation of NT$1 billion (US$30.4m) while the Evergreen Group would donate a further NT$4.2 billion (US$127.7m). He is also encouraging all members of the Evergreen ‘family’, whether they are overseas affiliates or agents, to participate in this relief effort in whatever way they felt was appropriate.

Given the scale of the tragedy, Dr Chang has asked the staff of the Foundation to travel to the affected areas to care for the victims who are in a desperate situation due to food and water shortages. These have been made worse due to roads and bridges being closed by landslides and flooding.

Positive steps have been taken already. The Chang Yung-Fa Foundation announced that Evergreen Sky Catering Corp, whose kitchens normally prepare food for international airlines, will supply aid boxes containing nutritious food and drink while Evergreen International Storage and Transportation Corp will arrange deliveries to the disaster areas. 

Evergreen Marine Corp has already promised Kaohsiung County Government that it will provide both dry and reefer containers for storage and as temporary shelters. 

EVA Airways and Evergreen International Hotels are providing blankets, duvets, towels and bed sheets while the Chang Young-Fa Foundation has already purchased 3,000 sets of clothing to deliver to the victims immediately.  

On learning that rail and road traffic between Taitung and Kaohsiung had suffered serious disruptions, Dr Chang also instructed Uni Air to transport relief materials and rescue teams free of charge during the recovery period.

The Evergreen Group will continue to review its relief efforts and seek to find additional ways in which it can assist by using to the full its comprehensive land, sea and air networks. 

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