Date:16/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/16/stories/2008051655291300.htm

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India to assist China, Myanmar

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: India will send relief assistance to China and a team of armed forces medical personnel to Myanmar, said Ministry of Defence sources here.

While China’s Sichuan province was hit by an earthquake on May 12, Myanmar was devastated by a cyclone on May 3.

The first batch of aid to China will leave in the Indian Air Force’s largest troop aircraft, the Il-76, on Saturday carrying 36 tonnes of blankets and tents.

The aid lift to China from Delhi will be followed by another aircraft from Kanpur on Monday. Both aircraft will land at Chengdu and the relief materials will be handled by the Chinese.

$5 m package

The aid is part of a $5 million package approved by the MEA and will be utilised for providing blankets, tents, sleeping bags, medicines. Following an offer from External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, China has requested for tents, water purifiers, stretchers, cutting machines, winches, medicines and portable cabins.

The same day, another Il-76 will take off for Myanmar carrying a 50-strong medical team along with medicines and support equipment.

Myanmar’s request

The decision to send a medical team was approved by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) following a request by Myanmar which has otherwise been reluctant to accept aid workers from most countries.

The team will be accompanied by four “bricks” of medicines weighing about five to six tonnes for treating about 4,000 patients. The medical team comprising surgeons, physicians and support staff will be divided into two batches. The loading will begin on Friday.