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SINGAPORE: China's most pressing needs for the victims of the Sichuan earthquake are three million tents, medical services and supplies, said its Ambassador to Singapore on Thursday.
While factories in China are speeding up production, Ms Zhang Xiao Kang said the country is seeking ready-made tents, especially from neighbouring countries.
In response, Singapore is sending some 1,300 tents, as part of its pledged humanitarian package to Sichuan.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry said these are enough to house more than 6,500 people.
As of Thursday, over S$25 million worth of donations was collected by various organisations in Singapore and the Singaporean community based in China.
Meanwhile, the country's SCDF's Disaster Assistance & Rescue Team (DART) wrapped up its Sichuan mission, returning home on Thursday night after almost a week in quake-hit Sichuan.
Upon touchdown at Paya Lebar Airbase, they were greeted by Second Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam.
Mr Shanmugam said: "They went in when aftershocks were continuing, they went to one of the worst-hit areas, Hongbai city, a town near Shifang. Something like over 200 Chinese rescuers died in the aftershocks and landslides, so it was very hazardous.
"They worked under very trying conditions and we are thankful that they have come back after what they had to do, and it's an effort well done."
Also present at the airport was Ms Zhang, who was all praises for a job well done.
Ms Zhang said: "The Sichuan government had already expressed their gratitude for the work done there and their excellent performance has won the respect of the Chinese people."
Back at their base, the DART team received a hero's welcome. Colleagues and family members were just thankful to see their co-workers and loved ones back safe and sound.
The comfort of being back home is a stark contrast to the challenges the team had to face while carrying out search operations in Shifang, one of the most affected regions.
The Singapore DART team was one of four foreign rescue teams that assisted China in its search efforts.
In the five days they were there, the team carried out search operations in more than a dozen sites of collapsed buildings. Complicating their operations were the constant aftershocks.
Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Ng, Commander of SCDF Operation Lionheart, said: "The first and foremost challenge is that there were still quite a number of aftershocks. And aftershocks actually come all the time, even in the midst of conducting our rescue operations.
"Sometimes the guys have to get under the rubble to detect and search for any casualties, and some of these aftershocks pose a danger because they can actually bring down the buildings further or even create more damage."
Still, morale among the men remained high, said LTC Ng, as they had very good support from the Chinese people. - CNA/de
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