A 55-member Chinese rescue team left for Pakistan Thursday morning to help with relief efforts following devastating floods in the south Asian country.

The team, which is from the China International Search and Rescue Team (CISAR), comprises of 36 medical workers and 19 rescue workers and technicians, according to the China Earthquake Administration (CEA).

CEA deputy director Zhao Heping said the Chinese government and people were deeply concerned about the flood situation in Pakistan.

Huang Jianfa, head of the mission, said the relief work would focus mainly on medical assistance, and the team would set up a field hospital in the flood-hit area, thus enabling doctors to perform emergency operations.

Huang said the date the team returned would depend on the flood situation.

Zhang Liyan, head of the medical group, said it was the largest number of medical staff compared to any of the CISAR's previous foreign missions.

The medical group included 14 female doctors, who were sent specially to offer medical aid for female Muslim Pakistani patients, Zhang added.

The mission also carried 8 million yuan worth of relief materials, including medicine and medical equipment.

Addressing the departure ceremony, Pakistani Ambassador to China Masood Khan said the rescue mission will rekindle new hopes for Pakistan, and the Pakistani government and people were "deeply moved by this friendly and humanitarian gesture."

China was one of the first countries to respond to the relief needs of Pakistan when it was hit by the worst floods in 81 years. The Chinese government on Wednesday decided to offer an additional 60 million yuan of relief supplies to Pakistan, raising its assistance amount to 120 million yuan of relief materials.

Sun Weidong, an official with the Chinese Foreign Ministry, told reporters that China will continue to help Pakistan at its request.

(Xinhua News Agency August 26, 2010)