(Itar-Tass) - An Il-76 transport plane of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry with relief supplies for Lebanon took off from the Ramenskoye airfield outside of Moscow at 10:00, Moscow time. It is expected to land at the airport of the town of Larnaca, Cyprus, in four hours, a Ministry representative told Itar-Tass.
Russia is sending 2,000 half-woolen blankets, 1,000 mattresses, 4,000 pillows and many tents that can accommodate more than 1,400 people, reports Trend.
"In Larnaca, the cargo will be handed over to representatives of the UN World Food Program, and later taken directly to Lebanon by sea," the Ministry official said.
The Wednesday flight by the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry's plane is the first of the four. "Until August, 15, the Ministry's planes will make another three flights to Cyprus with humanitarian cargoes," according to the Ministry.
On August 11, two Russian transport planes will bring large tents and foodstuffs to Larnaca. The fourth flight on August 15 will deliver ten mobile electric stations, more than 12 tonnes of baby food and 22 tonnes of medicines and medical equipment for the Lebanese population.