The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs' Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Swiss Red Cross (SRC) are sending about 1,050 tents and four experts to China's quake-hit region, according to a source with the Swiss Embassy to China.

The tents, measuring up to 20 square meters, will provide shelter for6,000 to 8,000 people. When they arrive in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, this week, they will be given to the Red Cross Society of China whose staff will receive help from the Swiss experts to erect them.

Switzerland is also sending six 56-square-meters multi-purpose tents that can be used as temporary medical dispensaries, schools or storage space.

According to a Swiss Embassy to China press release, one Swiss consignment of relief supplies had already been financed from initial emergency funding. This enabled the purchase of 20,000 water canisters, 6,000 tarpaulins and 20,000 blankets in China for delivery to the Sichuan branch of the Red Cross Society of China on May 23.

The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs has also contacted the Chinese Embassy to Switzerland in Berne with an offer of sending experts (geologists, environmental specialists and dam construction engineers) to mitigate secondary damage (breached dams and environmental disasters, among others).

Currently, about 200 Chinese International Search And Rescue team (CISAR) members have attended search and rescue training courses held by Switzerland. All are currently undertaking rescue work pertaining to the May 12 quake-hit area, according to the press release.

(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2008)