Roundup: More foreign aid arrives in quake-struck Nepal

Four days after a massive earthquake hit Nepal, more international aid has arrived at the capital city of Kathmandu, in an attempt to find survivors and meet their basic living and medical needs.

As a responsible power, China responded immediately to Nepal's call after the magnitude-7.9 quake rocked the Himalayan country, leaving more than 5000 people dead and over 8000 others injured while hundreds were still missing across the country.

The first batch of Chinese aid material, which included tents, blankets and electric generators, arrived aboard a military plane in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

The aid is part of 186 tons of emergency aid worth 20 million yuan (3.2 million U.S.dollars) pledged by the Chinese government.

Moreover, China has decided to send a second batch of emergency relief worth 40 million yuan (6.4 million dollars) to affected areas in Nepal, including water purifiers, first aid kits, tents and blankets, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said Wednesday.

Meanwhile, 215 Chinese military personnel arrived in Nepal on Monday and Tuesday in two batches.

They conducted rescue operations with sniffing dogs, recovery vehicles and rescue equipment, and provided medical aid and psychological counseling.

The 62-member China International Search and Rescue Team that arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday as the first international heavy urban search and rescue team has transferred its work focus to medical service and epidemic prevention as four days have passed after the quake occurred. A total of 328 patients were treated by them on Tuesday.

The 58-strong Chinese Government Medical Team has treated 83 people since arriving in Nepal on Monday.

Besides that, more Chinese governmental and civil organizations such as the Red Cross Society of China have arrived in Nepal or are standing by.

The death toll in the massive quake could jump to 10,000, Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala told ambassadors of China, India and the United States on Tuesday.

When disaster strikes, help comes from all sides. More and more countries joined the Nepalese in saving lives and helping victims through granting money or sending rescue and medical teams.

Indian authorities on Monday airlifted the bodies of two persons and 36 people stranded in a quake-hit area in Nepal to Indian-controlled Kashmir. Among the 36 evacuated, three injured have been admitted to the hospital for treatment.

The Obama administration on Monday pledged an additional 9 million dollars for "response and recovery" efforts, on top of one million dollars released on Saturday.

Some U.S. military personnel have already joined the relief effort in the Himalayan country.

The Belgian humanitarian mission that left Brussels Sunday for Nepal has finally left New Delhi for Kathmandu after receiving permission to take off.

The Swiss federal government has announced that a 10-strong medical team will fly to Nepal as part of the efforts to provide medical support in the disaster area for women in childbirth and to perform surgery on children there.

Finland will grant two million euros (2.2 million dollars) in humanitarian aid to Nepal to meet the needs of the earthquake victims.

Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has ordered that the first consignment of at least 40 tons of food be delivered to Kathmandu by May 4.

The United Nations on Monday released 15 million dollars for immediate relief needs in Nepal. Endi