Minister Tsai Hsung-Hsiung of southern office of Morakot Post-Disaster Reconstruction Council, Executive Yuan said that the southern disaster relief office and the southern office have completed transfer of work projects, so that relief work has gradually shifted from disaster relief to rebuilding homes.

The southern office of Morakot Post-Disaster Reconstruction Council, Executive Yuan and the southern disaster relief office held joint working integration meeting on 24th, chaired by Minister Tsai Hsung-Hsiung. Minister Tsai said the meeting was conducted according to Premier Liu’s four important directions, namely reconstruction and planning of the affected area, strengthening infrastructure, promoting the reconstruction of homes, and to speed up industrial renewal of the disaster area.

Minister Tsai said the southern office completed the working group meeting for the first time today and disaster response center operations will be transferred to the relevant departments. The affected area’s local government officials were invited to participate ,reached a consensus and the demands were documented. In resettlement and relocation, the president and the premier ask the local governments’ participation, and demand cities and counties form ad hoc working groups, to include representatives from central governments, county and city governments, townships or tribes, and will set up a website to serve as communication platform.

Deputy Minister Lin Join-Sane of MOI stated that the county and city government have already completed the relief funding dissemination work within 3 days. Among the 503 missing individuals, 320 have received special condolences and help with funding; to date, all 1,700 damaged houses have been insured and have been taken care of with 3 optional methods, with about 60% of people choosing to rent and a favorable buyout. The government relocated another 40% of people. 2,823 residences have been taken care of. All requirements on land, funding, materials and energy have already been delivered. The Ministry of Defense has also spared 3,000 beds at army camps, with veteran homes providing 1,000 beds, totaling 4,000 beds, to provide for the needs of relief efforts. Each local government was responsible for tallying of such needs. 

Deputy Minister Chen Wen-Jen of MOTC stated that the southern railway was severely affected by Typhoon Morakot, and is being fully repaired. The Taitung to Fangliao section will be expected to resume service by October 15th. The Fangliao to Nanzhou section will also resume service by December 13th. Between October 15th and December 13th, the Fangliao to Nanzhou section will be connected with shuttle bus services. The MOTC also coordinated efforts with Uni Air to provide Taitung to Kaohsiung air services before the southern railway was fully repaired, to help meet transportation needs. In terms of provincial highway system, all sections are now working as normal. The Alishan section will resume service by September 20th.