Republic of China (Taiwan) Increases Gift of Rice to FFTP in Haiti
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Jan. 7, 2021) The Republic of China (Taiwan) is significantly increasing its gift of rice to Haiti this year, which comes at a critical time as continued unrest combined with the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the food crisis.
Food For The Poor-Haiti will receive 440 lifesaving tractor-trailer loads of rice in 2021, with the first shipment of 40 containers being sent this month.
The shipments will equal 8,800 tons of rice, or 22 percent more than last year.
On Wednesday, Bishop Ogé Beauvoir, Executive Director of Food For The Poor-Haiti, and Wen-Jiann Ku, Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Haiti, signed an agreement at the charity’s Port-au-Prince office, spelling out the details of the shipments.
Ambassador Ku said the gift of rice is an answer to the cries of help from the Haitian people.
“[The year] 2021 in our culture is the year of the ox which represents diligence and devotion; those are the qualities which gather us here today,” said Ambassador Ku. “With Food For The Poor, we will help many families get through this very difficult present moment.”
Beauvoir recalled how one year ago, when the last agreement was signed, there were 4 million Haitians suffering from food insecurity.
“Since then, things have not gotten better,” Beauvoir said. “Sociopolitical unrest, coupled with the coronavirus pandemic have worsened the food crisis. In terms of food security, dark days still await the Haitian population.”
Beauvoir thanked the Taiwanese government and its people for their generosity.
“The Haitian people, through Food For The Poor, and all the beneficiaries of this ever-legendary generosity, will always remember the Taiwanese people,” Beauvoir said. “We will always be grateful to you. Above all, through your generosity to us, you have taught us how to be generous with one another. You give to us to distribute to the poor and the poor share with their neighbors and close ones.”
For 14 years, the partnership with the Taiwanese government has provided Food For The Poor the opportunity to feed thousands of families and meet its mission to help children and families living in dire poverty.
Food For The Poor President/CEO Ed Raine said the partnership has been a blessing to those in Haiti suffering from poverty.
“This generous gift enables us to fulfill our mission to provide essential aid to families in times of crisis,” Raine said.
Food For The Poor, one of the largest international relief and development organizations in the nation, does much more than feed millions of hungry children and families living in poverty primarily in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicine, educational materials, homes, support for orphaned and abandoned children, care for the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.
Michael Turnbell
Public Relations
954-427-2222 x 6054
[email protected]