More emergency relief funds approved for Taiwan typhoon victims
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     The Government has approved a grant of $5 million from the Disaster Relief Fund to World Vision Hong Kong to undertake a relief project for typhoon victims in Taiwan.

     The grant is further to a disbursement of $50 million provided through the Chung Hwa Travel Service to the Taiwanese authorities to undertake relief projects for victims in Taiwan affected by Typhoon Morakot.  It takes the total value of grants for typhoon victims in Taiwan to $55 million.

     A spokesman for the Government said today (August 28) that this had been made possible under a fast-track mechanism set up on the advice of the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee for the Government to respond quickly to direct appeals for aid in kind from relief agencies.  

     ¡§To ensure that the money will be used for the designated purposes, the relief agency has been asked to submit evaluation reports and audited accounts on the use of the grant after the relief project has been completed,¡¨ the spokesman said.

Ends/Friday, August 28, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:53

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