China offers emergency aid of 30m yuan to Syria
Beijing will offer emergency humanitarian aid of 30 million yuan to earthquake-hit Syria, Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, told a regular news briefing on Wednesday. Mao said nearly half of the emergency aid would be used for urgently-needed relief supplies, adding that existing food aid projects would be sped up. Beijing has already committed to give a first tranche of 40 million yuan in emergency aid to Turkey. An earthquake rescue team sent by China arrived at Turkey's Adana Airport early on Wednesday, broadcaster CCTV reported. The 82-strong team brought 20 tonnes of medical and other rescue supplies and equipment, as well as four search-and-rescue dogs, CCTV added. The team will co-operate with local authorities, Beijing's embassy in Turkey, the United Nations and other agencies on missions such as setting up a temporary command, search-and-rescue efforts, and providing medical aid, it said. Civil society rescue teams numbering at least 52 – drawn from provinces such as Guangdong, Jiangsu, Jiangxi and Zhejiang – are also heading to earthquake-hit areas in Turkey for rescue work, CCTV said. (Reuters)