By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Two Russian Il-76 airplanes are to deliver 60 metric tons of humanitarian aid to Myanmar on Thursday, as the Southeast Asian country attempts to recover from a cyclone that has left some 100,000 people dead and thousands homeless, an emergencies spokesperson said.
Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar on Saturday, devastating large parts of the country. The death toll is likely to rise further as rescue workers struggle to reach remote settlements, while the nationwide number of displaced people could reach millions.
“The planes will carry tents, blankets, generators, medical supplies, including disinfectants and bandages, as well as food,” the spokesperson said.
The humanitarian aid will be delivered to Myanmar’s largest city of Yangon.
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.