New Taipei's 'Little Myanmar' Seeks Aid for Homeland After Earthquake

TaiwanPlus News

Taiwan's Burmese-Chinese community is raising donations to help those affected by the magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Myanmar that has killed thousands of people. But they face barriers getting aid to the war-torn country, whose borders are controlled by the ruling military junta.

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00:00The rain casts a gloomy shadow on New Taipei's usually lively little Myanmar.

00:10Taiwan's Burmese-Chinese community gathers just days after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake

00:16struck the central Myanmar city of Mandalay, killing thousands of people.

00:20Some here, still waiting to hear from family members in their homeland.

00:25I haven't been able to contact my siblings yet, but I hope they are safe.

00:32Taiwan's Myanmar community is trying to come together to help those inside the country.

00:38But they face a series of challenges.

00:41Communication is spotty, and access to aid is controlled by the military government.

00:45The junta has asked for foreign help, but is selective about where it comes from, leaving

00:49some feeling helpless.

00:52We are very worried.

00:53We don't know what to do.

00:55Taiwan's aid has to go, but they won't let it go.

01:00What do we do?

01:01We have to donate money.

01:05If we can help, we will help.

01:09It's a tragedy.

01:11We don't know what will happen next.

01:15Leaders in the community have been touched by how people have come together to support

01:19the most affected region, Sagaing, which has also been shattered by years of civil war.

01:24Many people in Sagaing want to help the victims of the quake.

01:37We hope that more people will come together to help.

01:47Although many have made Taiwan their home, the Myanmar community remains tightly connected

01:52to its motherland.

01:53And people here are staying resilient to make sure they get aid to those who need it the most.

01:58Kama Sri and Tiffany Wong in New Taipei City for Taiwan Plus.

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