TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Midi Z (趙德胤), a Taiwanese filmmaker born in Myanmar, held a press conference in New Taipei on Monday, appealing for medical assistance following the 7.7-magnitude earthquake centered in Mandalay.
Known for feature films such as “The Road to Mandalay” and documentaries like “City of Jade,” which have won acclaim at film festivals in Venice and Berlin, Midi Z attended high school and college in Taiwan before becoming naturalized.
At the press conference, he was joined by 50 Myanmar students currently studying in Taiwan, who asked for assistance for their country. According to PTS, many Myanmar Chinese in Taiwan are concerned about family members and the destruction of their homeland.
“Myanmar is short of everything now, supplies, manpower, and medical care. The local hospital was also destroyed by the earthquake, with all the patients driven out. From now on, we will focus on saving lives and showing kindness and compassion," said Midi Z.
"We need a lot of support, but it doesn't need to be money or tools. Each person has a pair of hands and can move one brick," per CNA. He said the situation is compounded by war within the country, with many fleeing their homes to live in Mandalay as refugees before the earthquake.
With highways rendered impassable, rescue efforts have become more difficult. As the golden 72-hour period for rescue and recovery slips, many Myanmar students in Taiwan are feeling anxious and despondent.
One such student, surnamed Ma (馬), said that after contact with family in Myanmar, “many shocking videos have yet to be seen. We are asking everyone for help.” Another student surnamed Wang (王) said, “Many feel desperate; even if they have a car or tools, they simply can’t do anything besides wait for rescuers to come.”
Midi Z said that even Myanmar students in Taiwan would need more counseling, and he hoped Taiwan’s government could help.
