India sending two relief ships to cyclone-hit Myanmar
2008-05-06 15:42:35
NEW DELHI, May 6 (Xinhua)--- With the death toll in the Myanmar
cyclone now standing at around 15,000, India has dispatched two naval
ships loaded with relief supplies to the cyclone-battered nation, with
more relief assistance to be sent by air, according to The Times of
India Tuesday.
Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar Friday night with winds of speed up to
190 kmph. It subsided after 10 hours Saturday morning, leaving behind
large-scale devastation in several areas of Yangon and the Irrawady
delta.
According to media reports, officials in Myanmar have put the
death toll at around 15,000.
Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Navtej
Sarna said Monday that President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee have
sent individual messages to the Myanmar government "expressing their
deep distress" at the devastation caused by the natural disaster.
"They have also conveyed India's readiness to provide immediate
emergency relief assistance and to assist Myanmar in its
rehabilitation efforts," said an MEA statement issued earlier Monday.
According to the MEA press note, two naval ships were being loaded
with relief supplies, mainly food items, tents, blankets, clothing,
medicines and meals-ready-to-eat (MRE) for immediate assistance. They
will be dispatched from Port Blair for Yangon.
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