THE Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) on Thursday morning dispatched a team of rescue workers with its first batch of medical supplies to Syria to assist the earthquake-hit country in rescue operations.

The RCSC sent the supplies at the request of the Syrian Embassy and the Syrian Red Crescent, which will meet the needs of up to 5,000 people.

After strong earthquakes jolted Türkiye and Syria on Monday, the RCSC has provided the Turkish Red Crescent and the Syrian Red Crescent with US$200,000 in cash respectively as emergency humanitarian assistance.

The RCSC said it will keep abreast of the humanitarian needs in the disaster-stricken areas in the two countries and pledged to offer humanitarian aid to the best of its ability.

Meanwhile, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday that China would provide emergency humanitarian aid worth 30 million yuan (US$4.42 million) to Syria.

The aid includes assistance of US$2 million and relief materials urgently needed in the quake-hit country, spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing.

China is speeding up the implementation of an ongoing food aid program, she said.

In the ongoing food aid project, 220 cubic tons of wheat are on their way to Syria, and the remaining 3,000 cubic tons of rice and wheat will be shipped in two batches in the near future, according to China International Development Cooperation Agency.

Relevant Chinese authorities will work with the Syrian side to ensure that the above assistance is implemented as soon as possible, so as to help the Syrian side with earthquake relief and rescue work, Mao added. (Xinhua)