MOSCOW, November 14 (Itar-Tass) — A second plane of the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations with a humanitarian cargo on board intended for the victims of Sandy hurricane landed in New York at 8.50 am Moscow time Wednesday, the press and information department of the ministry told Itar-Tass.
Earlier, another flight Il -76 carrying a humanitarian cargo had arrived in New York from Russia. The charter flights from Russia delivered around 50 tons of blankets.
The Russian planes were met by representatives of the local authorities, the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Russian diplomats. It is planned to distribute the aid among the citizens who were affected by the hurricane in New York City, the State of New York and New Jersey.
Damage inflicted by Hurricane Sandy on the northeast coast of the United States has exceeded 50 billion US dollars. More than 100 people have been killed in the natural calamity. At least 30 billion US dollars are needed for the restoration work in the state of New York alone.
In the end of October Minister for Emergency Situations Vladimir Puchkov ordered to ensure emergency humanitarian response and render assistance to countries which suffered as a result of the hurricane. The Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations rendered humanitarian assistance to Cuba, sending several planes with relief supplies at Cuba's request.
Seven years ago the Ministry for Emergency Situations already delivered humanitarian aid to the United States which accepted the humanitarian aid from Russia after a devastating hurricane Katrina in 2005. Russia sent three planes to the United States then, delivering more than 60 tons of relief supplies, including medications, dry rations, tents and blankets.