The Social Aid to and Placement of Refugees in 921 Big Quake Analysis

The centennial earthquake disaster in Taiwan took place for less than one minute, however, had many households collapsed and many people heart-broken. The Mother Nature let people in Taiwan experience an unexpected un-precedent severe blow at the end of the century. Magnitude 7.3 earthquake took place at 1:47 a.m. on September 21, 1999. Suddenly, the quite night turned into a thrilling heart-broken one. Thousands of people died in the quake and buildings collapsed. Over one hundred thousand people lost their home and they had waited in the dark cold night for the help to come. Many brave people rushed into the hazardous zone to help. They had risked their lives to search for the survivals in the debris and collapsed buildings. They rushed the injured to hospitals by travelling down the long winding broken roads. They moaned for the death and felt for the people who had just lost their love ones. After the quake took place, governments unified private rescue teams, religious groups, social welfare groups and charity to help with the rescue work. Social workers provided rescue service to refugees and arrange accommodation for them, also, assisted with the reservation and cremation of corps. At the same time, local government and central government delegated social workers and specialists to offer help and consolation to refugees. The idea is to give support and warmth to refugees of the big quake. By the time of January 21, 2000, the number of injured and deceased, distribution of consolation money, the placement of senior citizens and orphans, the compensation for the loss of building and placement of refugees are summarized and analyzed. The natural environment of Taichung County and Nantou County where there is with severe trauma from the big quake is analyzed.

(一) Taiwan Area

  1. Number of injured and death toll, and, distribution of consolation money

    2. From the analysis on the death toll of Big Quake in Taiwan Area, 2,440 persons were death and 54 were missing. The number of death and missing person is high in Nantou County (922 persons, 0.17%), then Taichung County (1,194 persons, 0.08%), Taichung City (113 persons, 0.01%) and Yunlin County (82 persons, 0.01%). In terms of death toll and injured in each county (city) analysis, Taichung County is the highest, 47.87%, then, Nantou County, 36.97%, Taichung City (4.53%), and Taipei Mun. (3.53%). Consolation money is distributed to 2,416 persons for a grand total of NT$2,416 million. Consolation money had already been distributed to refugees in all areas except for Taichung County (4.7% has not yet received the distribution of money due to the fact that dispute among families, orphan, single veteran [to be processed by Veteran Department], and individual without immediate inheritor) and Nantou County (2.4% has not yet received the distribution of money due to the fact that dispute among families, orphan, individual without immediate inheritor, and case in process).

    There are 725 persons seriously injured, in which, 390 persons (53.79%) in Taichung County, then, 249 persons (34.34%) in Nantou County, and 23 persons (3.17%) in Taichung City. Consolation money is distributed to 719 persons for a grand total of NT$143.8 million (99.2%). Consolation money has already been distributed to refugees in all areas except for Nantou County (2.4% yet to be distributed).

  2. Placement of senior citizens and orphans

    3. Close to 100,000 households were collapsed totally or partially in the Big Quake. One hundred and thirty-four children and youth (under age 18), 95 senior citizens and 5 others are already placed properly. Taichung County is with 81 orphans waiting to be placed, Nantou County is with 34 orphans and Taichung City is with 7 orphans. Nantou County is with 73 senior citizens waiting to be placed and Taichung County is with 20 senior citizens. In order to provide proper care to children, youth, senior citizens, and mental disables that suffered from the Big Quake, government had worked with private sector to help them recover from the trauma so they can reclaim their happiness and safety.

  3. Compensation for building collapsed and placement of refugees

    4. There are 51,962 households collapsed totally and 54,332 households collapsed partially (389 households are to be inspected and classified for compensation) in the 921 Big Quake with a grand total of 106,683 (1.89%) households. In terms of substantial property loss in each county (city), Nantou County is with 39.42%, Taichung County is with 9.69%, and Taichung City is with 2.22%. NT$10,182.4 million (98%) consolation money is distributed to compensate the property owners of 50,912 households that are totally collapsed. The process of distributing consolation money to refugees in Taichung County, Taichung City, Changhua County, Nantou County, and Yunlin County is not yet completed. NT$5,134 million (94.5%) consolation money is distributed to compensate the property owners of 50,912 households that are partially collapsed. The process of distributing consolation money to refugees in Taichung County, Taichung City, Changhua County, Nantou County, and Yunlin County is not yet completed.

    Government offers the alternatives of temporary shelter, state-run public housing, and rental aid to refuges so to have them properly placed with care. Over 326,793 (1.70%) refugees apply for rental aid. In terms of application filed for rental aid, Nantou County is with the highest number of 175,035 (32.13%) application forms, Taichung County is 119,787 (8.10%) application forms, and Taichung City is 15,925 (1.70%) application forms. Rental aid is distributed to 299,099 refugees already for a grand total of NT$11,991,030 thousand (91.5%). The process of distributing rental aid to refugees in Miaoli County, Taichung County, Taichung City, Changhua County, Nantou County, and Yunlin County is not yet completed.

  4. State-run public housing and temporary shelter

There are 1,301 applications filed for state-run public housing up to January 3, 2000 (526 applications filed in Taichung County, 405 applications filed in Nantou County, and 313 applications filed in Taichung City while only few applications are filed elsewhere). In terms of putting temporary shelter to use, a total of 5,205 households are made available to applicants in Miaoli County, Taichung County, Taichung City, Nantou County, Yunlin County and Chiayi County. Sixty-five points forty-two (65.42%) of the 5,205 temporary shelters are supplied and constructed by private sector in Taiwan Area while 19.23% is a donation from Japan, and 15.35% is constructed by government (375 shelters are made out of containers). Also, 4,630 of the 5,205 temporary shelters are distributed to applicants, 486 shelters are in idle, and 4,651 shelters are actually completed and constructed with 4,230 shelters currently occupied. In terms of demands for temporary shelter, Nantou County needs 3,131 households and Taichung County needs 1,192 households. In terms of supply of temporary shelter, 799 households are completely constructed by government, 3,405 households are from private sector with 2,851 households completely constructed, and 1,001 households are a donation of Japan. Ethic peoples that live in mountains demand 319 temporary shelters for use.

　

(二) Taichung County

  1. Number of injured and death toll, and, distribution of consolation money

    2. A total of 1,194 death and missing persons resulted from the Big Quake. Three hundred and fifty-eight death were found in Tungshih Jen (29.98%), 174 death in Shihkang Shiang (14.57%), 162 death in Tali Shih (13.57%), and 160 death in Fengyuan Shih (13.4%). In terms of death toll in each county (city) analysis, the highest ratio of death to population is found in Shihkang Shiang (174 death, 1.13%), then, Tungshih Jen (358 death, 0.61%), and Hsinshe Shiang (117 death, 0.43%). Consolation money is distributed to 1,138 refugees for a grand total of NT$1,138 million (95.31% is already distributed). Consolation money is already distributed to all refugees that are with serious injury for a grand total of NT$70.4 million (103 persons in Tungshih Jen have received).

  2. Compensation for building collapsed and placement of refugees

    3. There were 18,620 households collapsed totally and 18,775 households collapsed partially (88 households are to be inspected and classified for compensation) in Taichung County during the 921 Big Quake and with a grand total of 37,483 (9.98%) households. In terms of severe property loss in each county (city), Shihkang Shiang is with 74.67%, Tungshih Jen is with 65.70%, Hsinshe Shiang is with 38.96%, Hoping Shiang is with 31.64%, and Wufeng Shiang is with 31.32%. NT$3,589.4 million (96.4%) consolation money is distributed to compensate the property owners of 17,947 households that are totally collapsed. The process of distributing consolation money to refugees in Wufeng Shiang, Tali Shih, Tungshih Jen, Hsinshe Shiang, and Wujih Shiang is not yet completed. NT$1,677.6 million (89.4%) consolation money is distributed to compensate the property owners of 16,776 households partially collapsed. The process of distributing consolation money to refugees in Wufeng Shiang, Tali Shih, Taiping Shih, Tungshih Jen, Hsinshe Shiang, Wuchi Jen, Tantzu Shiang, and Wujih Shiang is not yet completed.

    In terms of application filed for rental aid, 119,787 (8.10%) refugees have it filed. In terms of ratio of application filed to population, Tungshih Jen is 61.03%, Shihkang Shiang is 58.44%, Hoping Shiang is 36.90%, Hsinshe Shiang is 34.99%, and Wufeng Shiang is 26.68%. Rental aid is distributed to 101,949 applicants for a grand total of NT$3,670,160 thousand (85.1%). The process of distributing rental aid to refugees in Wufeng Shiang, Taiping Shih, Tungshih Jen, Hsinshe Shiang, Wuchi Jen, and Wujih Shiang is not yet completed.

  3. State-run public housing and temporary shelter

There were 526 applications filed for state-run public housing up to January 3, 2000. In terms of putting temporary shelter to use, a total 1,377 temporary shelter are made available to applicants in Wufeng Shiang, Tali Shih, Taiping Shih, Tungshih Jen, Hsinshe Shiang, Shihkang Shiang, Hoping Shih, and Fengyuan Shih with 1,192 occupied currently, and 1,317 actually constructed completely for 1,148 residents live in. Tungshih Jen needs 421 temporary shelters and Tali Shih needs 380 temporary shelters.

(三) Nantou County

  1. Number of injured and death toll, and, distribution of consolation money

    2. A total of 992 death and missing persons resulted from the Big Quake. Two hundred and ten death were found in Puli Jen (22.78%), 179 death in Chungliao Shiang (19.41%), 115 death in Chushan Jen (12.47%), and 112 death in Kuohsing Shiang (12.15%). In terms of death toll in each county (city) analysis, the highest ratio of death toll to population is found in Chungliao Shiang (0.98), then, Kuohsing Shiang (0.45%), Chichi Jen (0.34%), Puli Jen (0.24%), and then Chushan Jen (0.18%). Consolation money is distributed to 900 refugees for a grand total of NT$900 million (97.61% is distributed). Consolation money is already distributed to 243 (249 in total) refugees that are with seriously injured for a grand total of NT$48.6 million (97.60%), in which, 57 persons were found in Puli Jen and 35 persons in Luku Shiang.

  2. Compensation for building collapsed and placement of refugees

    3. There are 28,358 households collapsed totally and 29,219 households collapsed partially (300 households are to be inspected and classified for compensation) in Nantou County during the 921 Big Quake with a grand total of 57,877 (39.42%) households. In terms of severe property loss in each county (city), Chungliao Shiang is with 84.69%, Yuchih Shiang is with 78.56%, Chichi Jen is with 74.94%, Kuohsing Shiang is with 57.02%, and Puli Jen is with 53.27%. NT$5,628.8 million (99.2%) consolation money is distributed to compensate the property owners of 28,144 households that are totally collapsed. The process of distributing consolation money to refugees in Puli Jen, Chushan Jen, Hsinyi Shiang, and Jenai Shiang is not yet completed. NT$2,834.3 million (97.0%) consolation money is distributed to compensate the property owners of 28,343 households partially collapsed. The process of distributing consolation money to refugees in Nantou Shih, Puli Jen, Chushan Jen, Yuchih Shiang, and Jenai Shiang is not yet completed.

    In terms of application filed for rental aid, 175,035 (32.13%) refugees have it filed. In terms of ratio of application filed to population, Yuchih Shiang is 71.01%, Chungliao Shiang is 68.72%, Kuohsing Shiang is 58.84%, Chichi Jen is 51.44%, Puli Jen is 37.64%, and Chushan Jen is 33.49%. Rental aid is distributed to 166,587 applicants for a grand total of NT$5,997,110 thousand (95.2%). The process of distributing rental aid to refugees in Nantou Shih, Puli Jen, Chaiotun Jen, Chushan Jen, Mingchien Shiang, Kuohsing Shiang, Hsinyi Shiang, and Jenai Shiang is not yet completed.

  3. State-run public housing and temporary shelter

There were 405 applications filed for state-run public housing up to January 3, 2000. In terms of putting temporary shelter to use, a total 3,433 temporary shelter are made available to the applicants in shiangs and jens (except for Mingchien Shiang and Jenai Shiang) with 3,131 needed and 2,939 actually constructed completely for 2,775 residents live in. Puli Jen needs 845 temporary shelters, Nantou County needs 569 temporary shelters, and Chungliao Shiang needs 503 shelters.

(四) Conclusion

  1. Life support to and rehabilitation of senior citizens, children, and mental disables

  1. Provide consulting service to charity groups and assist with the integration of information collected in order to avoid an excessive concentration of resources for a better result.

  2. Follow up the treatment and consulting service that is provided to the children, senior citizens, and metal disables in the homebound of relatives or social welfare institutes in order to understand their living condition and progress with proper assistance rendered on a timely manner.

  3. Provide housework, daily, and physical service to the senior citizens or mental disables that live in their own houses.

  4. Aid and combine the donation contributed by private sector to rebuild social welfare institute and Nursery for children in order to care and nursery the community that needs help.

  5. Assist social workers in shiang and jen financially and contract professional social workers from private sector to consult individuals in the hazardous area and to build up a long-term professional and stable relationship with each individual consulted. Perform periodical interview and review with the individuals consulted, also, combine all professionals together to provide psychological counseling service.

  6. Assist the orphans from the Big Quake or the relatives who is entrusted with the consolation money, heritage, and donation or establish a trust fund to protect the property right of the owner in this case. Provide incentives to the individuals who are willing to establish a trust fund account.

  1. Distribution of consolation money for the death and missing persons in Taichung County and Nantou County, also, the refugees with serious injury in Nantou County is not yet completed. The process of distributing consolation money should be supervised and handled promptly.

  2. Distribution of consolation money to property owners that have their households collapsed totally or partially in Taichung County, Taichung City, Changhua County, Nantou County, and Yunlin County is not yet completed. The process of distributing consolation money should be supervised and handled promptly.

  3. For the refugees who do not meet the requirement for temporary shelter or rental aid, military tents and container shelter should be made available to them for a reasonable period of time.