->Deputy Minister MAA Shyh-yuan: Enriching the duty support capacity in disaster relief from the civil society and continuing to strengthen disaster relief equipment and trainings

Today (on 2024/09/13), Deputy Minister MAA Shyh-yuan of the Interior (MOI) presided over the 2024 Equipment Subsidy Ceremony in Kaohsiung City, who indicated that in order to enhance the firefighting personnel's over disaster prevention and relief capabilities, a total of 22 medium-term programs were launched in 2024 with a budget of NT$26 billion, including a subsidy of NT$1,497.797 million to Kaohsiung City for the enrichment of firefighting and disaster relief equipment and devices, and the conduction of various professional training. In regard to enrichment of the equipment of the civil forces such as auxiliary firefighters, etc., the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) has allocated more than NT$119 million this year (2024), including a subsidy of NT$13.6 million to auxiliary firefighters and disaster prevention and relief groups of Kaohsiung City for the procurement of various equipment and devices according to their needs. Today (on 2024/09/13) at the 2024 Equipment Subsidy Ceremony, representatives from the Auxiliary Firefighter Corps and various disaster prevention and relief groups of Kaohsiung City received the subsidy to strengthen disaster relief capabilities of the civil society.

Pointed out by Deputy Minister MAA, auxiliary firefighters and disaster prevention and relief volunteers have been playing an important role in Taiwan’s disaster response system, who were thanked by MAA for putting themselves forward every time upon the striking of disaster to make selfless contributions in protecting the social safety without fear of wind and rain. As well, instructed by Deputy MAA, the National Fire Agency (NFA) was requested to continue to refine various trainings for auxiliary firefighter organizations, disaster prevention and relief groups, and voluntary organizations, as well as to provide equipment and device subsidies to promote technological trainings and information applications, thus ensuring the safety of disaster prevention and relief personnel during their duty support operations.

Explained by Deputy Minister MAA, in response to extreme environments and large-scale disasters, the government and civil society groups have been collaboratively conducting various professional trainings. Through the two medium-term programs, namely the "Medium-Term Program for Strengthening the Duty Support Capacity in Disaster Relief for Disaster Prevention and Relief Volunteers" and the "Medium-Term Program for Resilient Taiwan in Strengthening Various Types of Technological Trainings and Equipment Advancements for Auxiliary Firefighters", a common language for disaster rescue could be established to face future challenges.

Deputy MAA expressed his gratitude to the collaborative teams that have been implementing the medium-term programs for disaster prevention and relief volunteers and auxiliary firefighters for their help in taking inventory of the equipment and devices required by all municipalities and counties (cities). As well, the auxiliary firefighters and the disaster prevention and relief volunteers were also requested to be generous in providing suggestions without hesitation, so that the government and civil society counterparts could cooperate with each other more closely.

Group photo - showing Deputy Minister MAA Shyh-yuan and disaster prevention and relief volunteers of Kaohsiung City.

Group photo - showing Deputy Minister MAA Shyh-yuan, and auxiliary firefighters and disaster prevention and relief volunteers of Kaohsiung City.

Group photo - showing Deputy Minister MAA Shyh-yuan, Commander CHEN Yi-Yong of the Auxiliary Firefighter Corps of Kaohsiung City Government, and the auxiliary firefighter fellows.

Deputy Minister MAA Shyh-yuan of the Interior (MOI) was briefed on the equipment for vertical shaft rescue.