India to send relief supplies for cyclone hit in Myanmar

New Delhi, May 5 (UNI) India will immediately dispatch food and relief supplies to Myanmar for the people affected by the recent cyclone that killed nearly 4,000 people and affected 3,000 others mainly in Yangon and Irrawaddy Delta.

Two Indian naval ships from Port Blair with relief and medical supplies will sail immediately to Yangon carrying food items, tents, blankets, clothing, medicines, etc, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said today.

He said the government is also considering dispatching relief material by air.

A severe cyclone--Cyclone Nargis-- hit Myanmar on May 2-3 causing death and devastation. Thousands of people are reported dead and several thousand rendered homeless. Infrastructure has been severely damaged.

Reports coming in from Myanmar said nearly 4,000 people are dead and more than 3,000 affected.

President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee have each sent messages of condolence, expressing deep distress at the devastation caused by this natural disaster and conveying their condolences to the Government and the people of Myanmar.

The spokesman said they had also conveyed India's readiness to provide immediate emergency relief assistance and to assist Myanmar in its rehabilitation efforts.

''In keeping with India's historical, close and good neighbourly ties with the friendly people of Myanmar, the Government of India is providing immediate relief assistance to Myanmar,'' he said.

The External Affairs Minister also wrote to his counterpart expressing India's readiness to extend any help to tide over the crisis.

UNI RB PDT RAI2025