VIEDO – The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced Sunday that Israel will
be sending a relief mission to quake stricken China.
More than 62,000 people died in the massive 7.9 magnitude earthquake in China's Sichuan Province on May 12, and 23,775 people are still missing.
Video courtesy of Infolive.tv
The Israeli mission will be carrying 90 tons of medical equipment, medicines, clothes, tents and generators. The relief packet is estimated to be worth $1.5 billon and is primarily funded by the Ofer family and the Glazer Family Foundation. El-Al has volunteered one of its airplanes for the mission, which is expected to land in China on Sunday night (GMT).
The Israeli government offered Beijing to send a search and rescue party to assist their efforts, but China respectfully declined opting instead to relay a list of supplies urgently needed in the province. The Foreign Ministry was happy to comply.
"Israel is willing to lend a hand wherever disaster strikes. It is part of out ethical code," said Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. China's Ambassador to Israel Zhao Jun said that "it is in times of trouble that we find our true friends." Jun thanks the Israeli government for its show of solidarity.
Roni Sofer contributed to this report
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