TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP, 原住民族委員會), Taiwan's government agency overseeing indigenous affairs, and the Ministry of the Interior (MOI, 內政部) launched a joint initiative Monday (June 16) to bolster typhoon preparedness in vulnerable tribal communities. The "Indigenous & Typhoon Prevention" conference (114年防颱整備記者會) marks an intensified effort to address the unique challenges faced by indigenous villages, which are frequently isolated during natural disasters due to their remote mountain and coastal locations across Taiwan's rugged terrain.
Ljaucu Zingrur (曾智勇), chairperson of the CIP, warned during the press conference that Taiwan's 16 officially recognized indigenous tribes face escalating threats as climate change intensifies extreme weather patterns across the island. He outlined the council's recent initiatives, including comprehensive disaster prevention training programs conducted for tribal leaders and local officials in May, and the deployment of a specialized disaster notification network designed to overcome communication challenges in remote areas. The council has also developed a decision-support platform tailored to the unique geographical and cultural contexts of indigenous territories.
The council stressed the urgency of strengthening preventive measures as Taiwan enters its annual typhoon and flood season, which typically brings intense rainfall between June and September. Officials announced plans to enhance interagency coordination between the CIP, the MOI, and other government departments to create more resilient response systems for indigenous areas. A cornerstone of this effort is the ongoing "Livable Tribe Construction Project" (宜居部落建設計畫), a comprehensive initiative designed to upgrade infrastructure safety, standardize emergency communication protocols, minimize information gaps during disasters, and equip local tribal governments with improved risk assessment capabilities. ◼
