By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russia’s second plane from the Emergencies Ministry’s fleet is expected to deliver humanitarian aid to cyclone-hit Myanmar on Monday, Russia’s embassy in the southeast Asian country said on Sunday.
Myanmar is attempting to recover from Cyclone Nargis that, according to official data, has left over 20,000 people dead and dozens of thousands homeless.
Russia’s first plane with humanitarian aid landed in the capital of Myanmar, Yangon, early on Saturday.
Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar on May 3, devastating large parts of the country. Health official fear that the death toll is likely to rise to at least 100,000 people as rescue workers struggle to reach remote settlements, while the nationwide number of displaced people could reach millions.
Both planes from Russia’s Emergencies Ministry are expected to deliver a total of 60 metric tons of humanitarian supplies, including tents, blankets, generators, medical supplies, including disinfectants and bandages, and food.
A state of emergency has been introduced in the five worst-hit areas – the Irrawaddy delta, the cities of Yangon and Pegu, and the states of Karen and Mon. Most of the deaths came in the low-lying Irrawaddy delta region.