After and before.
Vesti 24
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First Russian Aid Reaches Myanmar
The first Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations plane carrying humanitarian aid for the victims of the destruction of typhoon Nargiz in Myanmar (Burma) arrives in the former capital of Yangon (Rangoon) on Friday. There are several tens of thousands of typhoon victims in Yangon, the country’s largest city, alone. A second Russian Il-76 transport plane will land in the devastated country on Sunday. They will carry 60 tons of cargo that will include tents, canned food, clothes and medicine, which will be turned over to the local administration for distribution. As a rule, countries that provide aid do not distribute it.
The typhoon hit the delta of the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar on May 3, sending a wave up to 3 m. high along its path. According to the authorities, more than 22,000 people were killed and 40,000 left homeless. Observers say that the number of victims is significantly higher, however. Western diplomats say that the figure may reach 100,000. The UN says that he typhoon caused serious suffering to a million and a half people.
International and humanitarian organizations are also providing aid to Myanmar. The UN has allocated at least $10 million from its emergency fund for Myanmar. The UN World Food Program has sent 500 tons of food to the country and plans to send more. Australian and Canadian organizations have provided almost $5-million worth of aid. The People’s Republic of China has also spent $1 million on aid to Myanmar. Other donor countries include Indonesia ($1 million), Germany (about $800,000), Belgium (ˆ250,000), Greece ($300,000) and Singapore ($200,000). The U.S. 7th Fleet is standing up redy to provide assistance, but no official request for aid has come from the authorities of Myanmar yet.
www.kommersant.com
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