Russia launches large-scale humanitarian operation

Russia launches large-scale humanitarian operation

MOSCOW -- Russian Emergency Situations Minister Vladimir Puchkov has announced that his country had launched a large-scale humanitarian operation to help Serbia.

Serbia is experiencing the worst flooding in over a century.

"Our teams are already working, side by side, with the Russo-Serbian Humanitarian Center in the affected areas and carrying out their tasks to protect lives and health and assist the victims," Puchkov said.

Earlier on Friday, Moscow announced it was sending two planes with humanitarian aid, after a rescue team arrived in Niš, southern Serbia, early in the morning.

The Russian embassy in Belgrade said in a statement that Russia reacted immediately, the same day that the Serbian leadership appealed for help. Russia decided to offer brotherly assistance to the Serbian people, the embassy said.

The statement noted that Russian efforts are coordinated by Chief Military Expert of the Ministry of Emergency Situations Eduard Chizhikov.

The embassy said that the Russian team that arrived on Friday was immediately deployed in Obrenovac, where they were met by Serbian PM Aleksandar Vučić, ministers of the interior and defense, Nebojša Stefanović and Bratislav Gašić, and Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Chepurin.