China is stepping up its medical aid efforts to Sri Lanka by sending another medical group to Hikkaduwa, a tsunami-hit town some 90 kilometers from the country's capital Colombo.
The four-member team, consisting of three medics from Macau and one from Beijing, will reach the resort town early this morning. They are expected to join the 14-member Chinese medical team who have been working in Hikkaduwa since Monday, said Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Sun Guoxiang.
The medical team has treated 600 post-tsunami patients, an average of 200 each day. Most of the patients were suffering from respiratory disease, injuries and muscle strains as they desperately tried to flee the tidal waves, said a surgeon in the camp.
Another batch of medicine from China also arrived in the town last night, helping to solve a medicine shortage.
"The medicine mainly involves those for fever, flu, diarrhea and epidemic prevention," said team leader Wang Bingqiang.
The chinese ambassador flew to the town by a helicopter, saying the Chinese government and people thank the team staff for their great job.
"We hope you all can continue your rescue assistance to the Sri Lankan people though there are difficulties everywhere," Sun said.
The team, the largest one in this area and the first one sent by government, has won great prestige around the country.
Elsewhere, rescue teams from Singapore and China have enjoyed good cooperation in their relief work in Indonesia's Banda Aceh, according to Singapore's Defense Minister.
Minister teo Chee Hean told reporters yesterday that the rescue teams have been able to work side by side and share experiences.
"We are happy to assist the rescue group from China to transport from Medan to Banda Aceh at the time when transportation to Banda Aceh was very difficult," said Teo, adding that he has seen Chinese rescuers doing a good job on the ground.
So far Singapore has dispatched two helicopter landing ships, 6 "Chinook" heavy helicopters and several medium and light helicopters with heavy equipment, such as water purification plant, as well as food and medicine to Banda Aceh and Meulaboh. About 900 Sinagporeans are working on the ground.