Another batch of relief supplies from Israel was flown to the earthquake-hit Sichuan Province in southwest China on Monday.

The 73-ton consignment, valued at US$545,000, includes 9,600 blankets, 150 outsize tents, each covering the needs of 24 people, and other supplies.

The shipment was donated by the Israel Defense Forces.

The Israeli government had sent Sichuan two batches of relief supplies worth US$1.5 million in total, including sleeping bags, blankets, water purifiers, electrocardiographs, mobile X-ray machines, therapy beds and generators.

The 8.0-magnitude quake centered in Sichuan's Wenchuan County on May 12 had left 69,016 people dead, 368,545 injured, 18,830 missing and more than 15 million homeless as of Sunday noon.

(Xinhua News Agency June 2, 2008)