Russia sends humanitarian aid to flood-hit Colombia

Russia`s Emergencies Ministry has sent a plane with humanitarian aid to Colombia which has been severely affected by devastating floods.

The plane carrying 25 tons of humanitarian aid is expected to arrive in Bogota on Wednesday, Colombia`s interior ministry has said. Russia is sending 50 tents, 2,000 blankets, two mobile power stations and 500 kilograms of medical supplies.

Russia`s ambassador to Colombia, Vladimir Trukhanovsky, and Colombia`s emergencies department head Luz Stella Jara will attend the ceremony at the military airport Catam de Bogota.

Heavy rains have caused flooding and landslides in the South American state that have killed at least 301 people, injured 292 people and left another 62 missing. More than 5,000 houses and 300,000 buildings have been destroyed.

The country`s worst rains in the past 40 years have caused a damage of over $500 million and flooded over 1.3 million hectares of agricultural lands. The Colombian government has earmarked $5.3 billion to tackle the aftermath of the disaster.

sections: Society, World News