TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan donated US$100,000 (NT$3.2 million) in snowstorm disaster relief funds to Mongolia on Tuesday (April 2).

According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Department of West Asian and African Affairs Director-General Ho Chung-yi (賀忠義) visited Mongolia on Tuesday. Taiwan donated US$50,000 each to the Mongolian Red Cross Society and Caritas Mongolia, MOFA said, per CNA.

Ho said that Taiwan and Mongolia have a longstanding friendship. “At this moment when Mongolian our friends are suffering from the most severe snowstorm in decades, the Taiwanese government and people express sincere concern and cooperate with the Mongolian Red Cross Society and Caritas Mongolia to contribute to post-disaster recovery efforts,” he said.

Mongolian Representative to Taiwan Tumurbaatar Gankhuyag said the snowstorm poses significant challenges to the livelihoods of herders. The representative said the aid would be delivered and Taiwan-Mongolia relationship would become even closer.

Vatican City Chargé d'affaires Reverend Stefano Mazzotti said Caritas Mongolia has been assisting poor people for many years, aiming to improve their well-being. He expressed gratitude for the donations from Taiwan.

“Taiwan sincerely hopes that the Mongolian snow disaster recovery work will proceed smoothly and the victims will return to normal life as soon as possible,” MOFA said.

A brutal winter struck Mongolia and left millions of livestock dead, reported New York Times. From Feb. 13-17, there were five heavy snowstorms that hit 15 provinces, affecting several heading communities, per ReliefWeb.