Poor coordination and an outpouring of kindness have combined to hinder the relief effort for victims of last Tuesday's earthquake in Taiwan, the Reuters news service reports.

The earthquake, which measured 7.6 on the Richter scale, was the strongest on record for the island. The death toll now stands at 2,131 and the quake has left 80,000 people homeless, Reuters reports.

Thousands of people wishing to volunteer and/or give supplies to the disaster-struck areas have not been able to find ways to give effectively, due to confusion about what is needed. In one example, several disaster areas were receiving tons of rice. Unfortunately, the people in those areas no longer had water or gas with which to cook the rice.

In another, many who showed up to give blood were turned away because of a lack of blood bags. Relief workers said the blood supply was adequate for now, but that people should come back in two weeks, Reuters reports.

Roads into the areas were jammed with volunteers, which occasionally held up relief efforts. Officials have asked those who want to help not to try to do it on their own.

"People's generosity is overwhelming," Patrick Hsu, deputy secretary-general of the Taiwan Red Cross, told Reuters. "Once an appeal is made, we usually get more than we need. Sometimes it's more than we can handle."

The biggest need right now, officials say, is money. A dozen charities have set up accounts to take donations, Reuters reports.

(The Los Angeles Times has posted an online list of agencies providing aid to Taiwan quake victims on its Web site.)

In a related story, Taiwan has told China "no thanks" on the mainland's offer to provide medical relief teams. Taiwanese officials have said they may accept the offer if there is a need in the future. The island nation will, however, accept the US$100,000 in cash China has offered, but likewise rejected an offer of relief supplies.

Relations between Taiwan and China, never warm, have soured since Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui made statements that China interpreted as meaning Taiwan would consider itself independent of China.

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