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Russian humanitarian convoy for Kosovo Serbs reaches Romania

The total weight of the humanitarian cargo is 284 tonnes

MOSCOW, December 9 (Itar-Tass) —— A convoy of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry carrying humanitarian aid to Kosovo Serbs has reached Romania, Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday.

Twenty-five trucks departed from Noginsk on December 7 to bring power plants, blankets, food, dishes and folding furniture to Serbia. The total weight of the humanitarian cargo is 284 tonnes. The convoy will cross the territory of Russia, Ukraine, Romania and Serbia.

“Our [humanitarian] convoy has crossed the Romanian border and moving towards Kosovo to bring humanitarian aid to Serbs,” he said.

In the words of Shoigu, the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry is sending another humanitarian convoy to Kosovo Serbs.

“A convoy carrying humanitarian cargo will depart from the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry’s 179th rescue center in Noginsk, Moscow region, to Serbia at 5:30 a.m. Moscow time on December 10,” he said.

The trucks will deliver diesel power plants, furnaces, folding furniture, household heaters, blankets, bed linen and food with the total weight of 160 tonnes, the ministry said.

A ministry Ilyushin Il-76 jetliner brought food, furnaces and dishes with the total weight of 36 tonnes to the Serbian city of Nis in November. The national unit of the International Committee of Red Cross delivered the humanitarian aid to Kosovo and distributed it between the needy.

Also Russia assisted the extinguishing of forest fires in Serbia this summer with sending a Beriyev Be-200 amphibious plane and a Mil Mi-26 helicopter.

A Russian-Serbian center for emergency situations in the Balkans opened in Nis in October. The deployment of a Russian-Serbian humanitarian center in Nis proceeds on schedule and its concept is gaining increasing support in Europe.

Meanwhile, a ministry’s demolition squad has ended demining operations in Serbia.