The first batch of our Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) returned to Singapore via two Singapore Armed Forces C-130 military planes today after successfully completing their search-and-rescue mission at Sichuan. The remaining rescuers will return tomorrow. The DART contingent arrived in Sichuan on 16 May 2008 and had worked in Shifang City, one of the most affected regions in the quake. Separately, in response to China's urgent need for tents, Singapore is sending to Sichuan 1,300 tents, enough to house over 6,500 people, as part of the pledged humanitarian assistance package to Sichuan. As of 22 May, over S$25 million of donations for the quake victims were collected by various charitable organisations in Singapore and the Singaporean community based in China.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
22 MAY 2008