Russian emergencies ministry to send over 30 tonnes of relief supplies to flood-stricken Sri Lanka
MOSCOW. Aug 8 (Interfax) - The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry will deliver humanitarian aid to the population of Sri Lanka, which has recently been struck by devastating floods, a ministry spokesman told Interfax.
"Following a request from the government of the Republic of Sri Lanka and instructions issued by the government of the Russian Federation, a Russian Emergency Situations Ministry [Ilyushin] Il-76 airplane will take off from Moscow shortly and will head to Colombo to deliver some 32 tonnes of humanitarian aid to the population of Sri Lanka affected by flooding," the spokesman said. The relief supplies include mobile power generators, tents and dishware.
The loading of humanitarian cargo on board the plane is already complete, he said.
According to local authorities, more than 150 people have been killed and over 3,000 forced to flee their homes as a result of floods in Sri Lanka.
Russian Emergency Situations Minister Vladimir Puchko has forwarded a message to Sri Lanka's disaster management minister, offering his condolences and announcing readiness to help clear up the aftermath of the massive floods caused by monsoon rains.
The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry previously aided Sri Lanka following a powerful tsunami in 2004, sending Russian rescuers to the disaster area. Additionally, a Russian Rescue Center aeromobile hospital helped hundreds of affected people in 2005.
