28 Sep 2017 09:10

Russian emergencies ministry's 69th humanitarian aid convoy leaves for Donbas

MOSCOW. Sept 28 (Interfax) - The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry has sent the 69th humanitarian aid convoy to Donbas, the ministry's press service said.

"The 69th convoy of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry carrying relief supplies for Donbas has left the Emergency Situations Ministry's Don rescue center in the Rostov region and is heading toward the Russian-Ukrainian border," the press service said.

The trucks are carrying more than 400 tonnes of humanitarian cargo, including food kits for children, medicines and medical supplies.

Along the route, the convoy will split into two groups of vehicles, one of which will head to Donetsk checkpoint on the state border and the other to the Matveyev Kurgan checkpoint. Afterwards, the vehicles will proceed to Donetsk and Luhansk.

Russia began sending humanitarian aid to the population of Donbas in August 2014. The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry has sent 68 humanitarian aid convoys with more than 70,000 tonnes of relief supplies to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions since that time.