Russia sends relief aid to typhoon-ravaged Philippines
MOSCOW. Nov 14 (Interfax) - The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry will deliver humanitarian aid to areas of the Philippines that were devastated by Typhoon Haiyan, Oleg Voronov, deputy director of the ministry's National Crisis Management Center, told Interfax.
"Two [Ilyushin] Il-76 airplanes of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry will take off from Khabarovsk and head to the Philippines. Russian rescuers will deliver over 56 tonnes of relief aid - canned meat and fish, as well as sugar - and will pick up Russian tourists on their way back. At the moment, there are 11 people willing to return to Russia. They have arrived in Cebu from different parts of the Philippine archipelago," Voronov said.
The exact number of Russian tourists willing to fly back home will be determined after the planes land in the Philippines, he added.
The humanitarian supplies will be delivered at the Philippine authorities' request, Voronov said,
"So far, the Philippine authorities have not decided whether to allow the Emergency Situations Ministry's airborne hospital, doctors and rescuers to work in the disaster-torn areas," Voronov said.
Doctors of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry are prepared to deploy a mobile hospital in the Philippines at short notice where they will be able to perform complicated surgical operations, should such a need arise.