Taiwan is expanding its participation in the international relief efforts in earthquake-ravaged Haiti by sending an assessment team to join forces with United Nations-related organizations in the Caribbean country, a Taiwan agency said Wednesday. The effort is also in keeping with the Taiwan government's promise to fund four aid projects in Haiti, said Lee Pai-po, deputy secretary-general of the International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) under Taiwan's foreign ministry. 'It is not easy for Taiwan to join international relief operations, as it is not a member of the United Nations, ' Lee said at a press briefing. 'But this time, it's very different because the United Nations has included Taiwan's relief efforts as part of its rescue system. ' Taiwan has also been invited by Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez to take part in an international meeting in mid-April to exchange views on long- term aid to Haiti. So far, the Taiwan government and private sector have provided a total of US$13 million in aid to Haiti. A Taiwan mission, led by ICDF Secretary-General Tao Wen-lung and other officials, will depart Thursday for Haiti to carry out the assessment, according to an ICDF statement. The team will focus on public health, the settlement of victims, vocational training and orphan adoption, the statement said. Meanwhile, the third medical team from Taiwan will leave Friday for Haiti on a two week mission. Jeffrey Chen, head of the 15-member medical team, said that when the rainy season begins in Haiti in March it 'will make the rescue work much more difficult.' 'By then, the safety of drinking water will be a top concern as the drainage system is poor,' he added. 'This will also make it difficult to control contagious diseases at a time when resources are lacking,' the doctor said. He called for donations of medical gauze, saying there is plenty of room in 10 of the 60 pieces of luggage his team is carrying. 