A plane will depart next Tuesday loaded with humanitarian aid to the people of Haiti, the Greek Foreign Ministry announced in a statement on Friday.

"The foreign ministry, responding to the need for immediate help to the people of Haiti, is sending ... a special team of physicians and a rescue unit as well as pharmaceuticals with a direct flight."

"The plane (a Boeing 747) will offer the possibility of carrying back to Greece some 400 citizens of European countries that are still in Haiti," the statement added.

The plane was offered by the Hellenic Imperial Airways, which will cover more that 50 percent of flight costs, the statement reads.

The volunteers will remain in Haiti for about 10 to 15 days, while the same plane will also conduct a second mission.

(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2009)