New Orleans Refugees to be Flown to Taiwan
Richard Fitsimmons (AP)
September 8, 2005
An official from the Taiwanese government said today that Taiwan is extending the hand of friendship to the Hurricane Katrina victims displaced from their homes due to flood waters. The government said that Taiwan would accept up to 1000 refugees to be housed in Taoyuan, a suburb outside the capital city of Taipei. The high-rise housing was generously offered up by Evergreen chairman, Chang Yung-fa, shipping magnate and multi-millionaire.
The government’s plan is to send chartered airliners from China Air and EVA directly to Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans to offer sanctuary to some of New Orleans’ most intransigent holdouts who still remain in the city. “We’ve already anticipated the needs of these impoverished people during the transition to a different culture”, said an EVA spokesman. “The planes interiors have been specially trashed and spray painted and the galleys will be fully stocked with orange Fanta and Moon Pies”. Concerns have already arisen about moving refugees too far away from their homes. Some New Orleans residents declined sanctuary in California citing distance from family and loved ones. In response to this question, one Taiwanese government official stated, “I really don’t think there will be much of a transition issue. Everybody loves Chinese food and we’ve got plenty of red beans and rice. All we have to do is mix them together.”
As a further welcoming gesture, EVA chairman Chang smiled broadly, gave a cross-armed, double-V gang salute and said, “fo shizzle”.
P3 IFT/C560 PPC
