Russia to start providing humanitarian aid

ChrisD(RJ) chrisd at russiajournal.com
Fri Mar 21 04:39:00 PST 2003


21.03.2003 14:05:01 Russia to start providing humanitarian aid to Iraqi refugees Friday MOSCOW. March 21 (Interfax) - The Russian Emergencies Ministry will start providing humanitarian aid to refugees from Iraq on Friday. The refugees are expected to arrive in Iran by the highway between Kermanshah and Baghdad.

Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu briefed President Vladimir Putin on this when they met in the Kremlin on Friday.

"The first plane [belonging to the Russian Emergencies Ministry] will arrive in Kermanshah at 11:40 p.m. A hospital site was chosen within five kilometers on the Kermanshah-Baghdad highway in Iran," Shoigu said.

At the first stage, there are plans for a fully equipped hospital designed for 5,000 people," Shoigu said, adding that cargo for the second and third phases of aid supplies for the refugees will be placed at the same site.

Setting up camps for refugees on Turkish territory is also being considered, Shoigu said.

During the second phase, two hospitals and a camp for 5,000 refugees should be set up near the highway.

Asked by the president as to how many Russian specialists will be involved in providing humanitarian aid, Shoigu replied that over 100 people are expected to help.



More information about the lbo-talk mailing list