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http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-08/11/c_13439905.htm
2010-08-11 14:02:36
BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- China will donate 1 million U.S. dollars and deliver humanitarian aid goods worth 20 million yuan (2.93 million U.S. dollars) to help Russia fight a series of menacing fires, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) announced Wednesday.
China has put into action an emergency humanitarian aid response, with relief goods to be delivered to Russia soon, Yao Jian, a spokesman with the MOC said in a brief statement posted on its website.
Wildfires caused by ongoing heat and drought have been raging in Russia's 17 regions, leaving more than 50 people dead and 3,500 homeless, according to local media reports.
US allows Moscow embassy families to return home
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/international/2010/August/international_August550.xml§ion=international
(AFP)
11 August 2010,
WASHINGTON — The United States said on Tuesday it was allowing both family members of its Moscow embassy staff and some personnel to return to the United States because of smog induced by massive forest fires.
The State Department also urged Americans to postpone travel to Russia until the problems caused by the wildfires improve.
“The Department of State has authorized the departure of dependents and non-critical mission personnel from the US Embassy in Moscow,” the department said in a statement.
Authorized departure means embassy personnel and their families can return home to the United States at US government expense.
The smog from the peat and forest fires burning in the countryside around 100 kilometers (60 miles) outside the city has choked Moscow for days and has been seeping into apartments, offices and even underground into the metro.
The State Department said: “Ongoing forest fires and extreme high temperatures in the Moscow region and surrounding areas of central Russia have produced hazardous levels of air pollution and caused numerous flight delays and cancellations in Moscow.
“The hazardous air quality means that persons with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should seek to relocate to unaffected areas of the country and avoid prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.”
U.S. State Department warns against visiting Russia
http://en.rian.ru/world/20100811/160150878.html
02:39 11/08/2010
The U.S. State Department on Tuesday warned nationals against visiting Russia because of wildfires raging across the country and an unprecedented heat wave, CNN reported.
The department recommended U.S. citizens to postpone travel to Russia because of acrid smog and numerous flight delays.
A scorching heat wave has gripped much of western Russia since mid-June, sparking wildfires and causing the worst drought in decades. More than 50 people died in the fires.
Moscow and a dozen other cities have been wrapped in a thick layer of smog. Health experts say pollution levels are so high that breathing has become as dangerous as smoking several packs of cigarettes a day.
The smog eased on Tuesday but could return should the wind change.
The record-breaking heat wave in Moscow will continue through mid-August, meteorologists say.
The State Department also authorized nonessential staff at the U.S. embassy in Russia and their dependents to leave the area at the U.S. government's expense.
WASHINGTON, August 11 (RIA Novosti)
Sweden warns against travel to fire-ravaged Russia
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/sweden-warns-against-travel-to-fireravaged-russia-2049287.html
AFP
Wednesday, 11 August 2010
Sweden advised its citizens against travelling to Moscow and regions in western Russia ravaged by wildfires and sweltering under a heatwave, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.
Moscow and its neighbouring regions have been recommended off limits until further notice "due to the massive fires in the west and central Russia" and the possible effects of the smog on the health, it said in a statement.
On Saturday Denmark also warned against travelling to the Russian capital unless strictly necessary.
Britain and Italy have issued lighter warnings against travelling to the region with children and for anyone who is pregnant, elderly or has health problems.
"There has been disruption to flights to and from Moscow airports in recent days due to poor visibility... This situation may continue for some time," the British foreign ministry said.
After almost two weeks of fires that have claimed over 50 lives and part destroyed a military storage site, the authorities said they were making progress in fighting fires that still covered 174,035 hectares (430,000 acres) of land.
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Greece is ready to extend visas for Russian tourists and to assist in extinguishing fires
http://english.ruvr.ru/2010/08/11/15281837.html
Greece has extended, until September 10th, the visas of Russian tourists because of fires in Russia, said the Greek Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.
"It is being announced that the Russian citizens who are in our country, may extend their stay in Greece until September 10, irrespective of the period of the visa which they have," reported the Foreign Minister of Greece.
This decision was made jointly by the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Citizen’s Rights.
In addition, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Greece has proposed to send Russia a military transport plane with a group of 40 rescue workers to assist in fighting the fires.
"The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ioannis-Alexios Zepos announced Tuesday to the Russian Ambassador to Greece, that the Greek authorities may send a special Air Force C-130 aircraft with a group of specialists on board to help deal with the disasters," it has also been reported.
There will be at least 40 fully equipped rescue workers to fight fires the Greek Foreign Ministry said. The head Greek diplomat told the Russian ambassador that his country is ready to help, although it will hinder its own ability to deal with the needs of fire protection in its own territory.
The Greek Foreign Ministry also announced that the Greek Embassy in Moscow continues to work as usual, despite several days of smoke in the Russian capital due to fire, RIA Novosti reports.
Greece is faced with forest fires annually. Thus, in 2007 when a devastating fire killed 67 people and burned 250,000 hectares of forest, Russia in that year sent fire fighting aviation to Greece including Be-200 and IL-76 aircraft.
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