A powerful magnitude 8 earthquake and several aftershocks struck the Republic of Peru Aug. 15, reportedly leaving 427 people dead, 829 injured and more than 80,000 homeless, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson David Wang stated Aug. 17. The government of Taiwan donated US$100,000 for disaster relief through its representative office in Peru, despite the fact that the country has not had diplomatic relations with Taiwan since 1971, Wang added.

On behalf of his government, Huang Lien-sheng, Taiwan's representative in Peru, expressed Aug. 16 the nation's deepest concern to Peruvian President Alan Garcia and the willingness to provide humanitarian supplies, medical aid and a rescue team, Wang said.

On hearing the news, Taiwan International Health Action, founded by the MOFA and the Department of Health in 2006, dispatched a medical team to Peru Aug. 17, TaiwanIHA said the same day.

TaiwanIHA is a task force drawing on expertise from different government agencies and private bodies in a bid to integrate human and material resources to provide emergency and humanitarian medical assistance to countries in need. The medical team sent to Peru is composed of five Taiwanese: Chen Hou-chaung, a Taichung Hospital orthopedic surgeon and chief of TaiwanIHA's medical division; Ker Cheng-chin, a surgeon from Taipei Hospital in charge of the infectious diseases department; Shin Yi-jen, a Taipei Hospital nurse; and TaiwanIHA staff members Lee Szu-min and Lien Shu-fen.

The team arrived in Lima, the capital of Peru, Aug. 18, and immediately proceeded to Pisco, the most seriously damaged area, accompanied by Huang, TaiwanIHA stated Aug. 20. Huang personally handed Taiwan's donation check to Peruvian Health Minister Carlos Vallejos, who was grateful to Taiwan's government and its people for taking action to help out in the nation's disaster area, the agency noted.

Taiwan's team was the first foreign medical group to arrive in Pisco, according to TaiwanIHA. The team members set up a base in San Juan de Dios, a local hospital, Aug. 18, and offered medical services in San Clemente Aug. 19, the agency claimed, adding that nearly one hundred patients received medical treatment that morning.

The team departed from Taiwan when Typhoon Sepat was about to strike the nation, TaiwanIHA noted, saying that the country of Peru appreciated that the team still chose to go in spite of the oncoming storm and possible danger.