Peru announced it would send three planes carrying 15 tons of humanitarian aid to Chileans affected by the massive quake on Saturday, Peruvian President of the Council of Ministers Javier Velasquez Quesquen said Monday.

The aid includes a portable hospital with specialized medical staff and15 tons of tents and blankets, which will be transported by two military planes and a Boeing 737. These planes will take Peruvians in chile back to Peru.

Right now, some 800 Peruvians are receiving humanitarian aid at Peru's consulate in Chile while at least 50 have requested their repatriation to Peru.

The authorities said it would do whatever necessary to help them.

Peru's foreign ministry has set up some phone lines reaching Chilean consulates so that Peruvians could get to know the situation of their compatriots.

Meanwhile, Peruvian Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism Martin Pere said what happened in Chile wouldn't affect the trade between the two countries, stressing the efforts Peruvian government has made to support the Chileans who can not return home.

The 8.8-magnitude earthquake has left 723 people dead so far, including two Peruvians.

(Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2010)