Two Russian Aircraft to Deliver Humanitarian Cargo to Cyclone-Hit Vanuatu

The Russian Emergencies Ministry (EMERCOM) will send two aircraft with 60 metric tons of humanitarian cargo on board to Vanuatu.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Russian Emergencies Ministry (EMERCOM) dispatched two aircraft with 60 metric tons of humanitarian cargo to the South Pacific's Republic of Vanuatu hit by a tropical cyclone, a press release on the ministry’s website said Sunday.

“Today, on the orders of Russia’s government, two Il-76 [transport] aircraft took off from Ramenskoye [town] in Moscow Region and headed to Vanuatu with humanitarian aid cargo on board. Its total weight is over 60 [metric] tons,” the press release read.

The aircraft will deliver foodstuff, including sugar, dairy, meat, canned fish as well as tents, blankets and other necessities.

According to the United Nations (UN) estimates, the cyclone Pam that hit the archipelago on March 13 killed at least 17 people and left 65,000 homeless. A total of 166,000 people, almost two thirds of Vanuatu's population, have been affected by the natural disaster.

Following the disaster, Vanuatu President Baldwin Lonsdale urged the international community to assist in recovery of the storm-affected country. Several countries, in particular Australia and New Zealand, have already pledged to allocate a total of $9.5 million.