Singapore sends humanitarian relief assistance to Indonesia

SINGAPORE, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Singapore dispatched on Friday evening a 42-man rescue contingent to support Indonesia's rescue and recovery efforts after the recent earthquake.

According to Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the rescue contingent, which comprises experienced officers from Singapore Civil Defense Force's elite Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART), will assist the Indonesians in their search and rescue operations in the aftermath of the earthquake that struck West Sumatra on Wednesday.

The Singapore government will also contribute 50,000 U.S. dollars worth of emergency relief supplies, including temporary shelters, blankets, medicines and electric generators.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday evening also made a telephone call to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Lee conveyed his sympathies for the victims of the earthquake. He told the Indonesian President that Singapore stood ready to render further help to Indonesia.