With the accompaniment of the Executive Yuan’s Reconstruction Council’s Deputy CEO Chern Jenn-Chuan, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development assistant secretary Ms. Sandra B. Henriquez visited the Morakot reconstruction area on October 1st. This included the Rinari Community in Pingtung, Changzhi Baihe Community, Wulaluzi Community and Taiwu Elementary School. Assistant secretary Henriquez was deeply impressed by the government’s settlement efficiency and respect for indigenous cultures in post-Morakot reconstruction efforts.

Deputy CEO Chern stated that the vast amount of concern and disaster rescue assistance the U.S. demonstrated during Typhoon Morakot was truly admirable. In addition to conducting exchanges on reconstruction experience during the visit to the reconstruction area, this trip is also significant in that it displays Taiwan’s reconstruction accomplishments over the past two years to the international community, who offered so much assistance during times of need.

Assistant secretary Henriquez is in charge of the implementation of 3.2 million low income public housing units, 562 Federal approved Native American and Hawaiian Native residences, and the post Katrina disaster settlement projects at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which are closely related to the vital topic of reconstruction after Typhoon Morakot in Taiwan. As she visited Taiwan to attend the International Conference for Social Housing in Taiwan, she put in a special request with the Reconstruction Council to visit the Morakot reconstruction area for a better understanding of the innovative methods Taiwan utilized in post-disaster settlement and the reconstruction results.

Assistant secretary Henriquez stated that although it has been six years since Hurricane Katrina, which mostly affected African American in the disaster area, some still await assistance in their return and reconstruction of their homes. She was deeply impressed by how highly efficient the Taiwanese government was, able to settle more than 10,000 of 3,000 households within two years while adopting a mode of public-private cooperation between the government and private organizations and corporations. She was also fascinated by the fact that the government gave full consideration and respect towards the opinions and cultures of the indigenous peoples during the reconstruction process.

During her visit to the permanent housing units, Assistant secretary Henriquez stated that the integration of employment, education, culture, spirituality, and community organization as well as sustainable development concepts such as green architecture and solar power in the planning of the Colorful Sustainable Community was deeply in sync with the ideas she had been promoting in related U.S. departments over the years. The day’s itinerary came to a conclusion as principal of Taiwu Elementary School, Wu Li-hua, presented the Taiwu Elementary School Folk Singers’ newest folk song album. Assistant secretary Henriquez commented on the many things she learned throughout this trip and expressed her thanks towards the passionate reception of reconstruction area residents and also the Reconstruction Council’s arrangements.

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