A Canadian C17 Globemaster cargo plane loaded with 2,000 emergency shelter kits is headed for the victims of cyclone-ravaged Burma.
The plane left CFB Trenton in eastern Ontario at about 1 p.m. on Wednesday en route to Thailand. From there, the 90 metric tonnes worth of supplies with be split up into three smaller shipments for distribution by the Red Cross in Rangoon.
The shelter kits contain a basket of tools including a handsaw, machete, shovel, hose and two large tarps to protect some of the more than 2 million storm victims from the elements, Andrew Rizk of the Red Cross told Â鶹´«Ã½net from Trenton.
As of Tuesday, only 11 planeloads of international aid had been distributed including rice and family kits -- consisting of pots, mosquito nets, water purification tablets and soap -- to thousands in the capital city and delta area.
"With this shipment that will bring the total up to 20 (planeloads) by the end of the week," Rizk said.
Two of four water purification units have also been installed in Rangoon. Once all four are operational, they will be able to produce over a million litres of fresh water each day, Red Cross officials say.
The Red Cross has 27,000 volunteers who have been working non-stop in Burma since before the storm hit.
Seventeen of the organization's disaster management specialists are also stationed in Burma to monitor the distribution of aid.
The Burmese government doesn't have the resources to distribute international aid in a timely manner, but refuses any significant foreign help.
Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej was to fly to Rangoon Wednesday to try and persuade Burma to grant visas to foreign aid experts.
"We have one Canadian delegate who is currently on standby in Bangkok and we are awaiting information with respect to the processing of his visa," Rizk said.
Canadian response
Canada has pledged $2 million in aid for the victims of cyclone Nargis which has killed at least 34,000 people and left 28,000 missing.
In the House of Commons Wednesday, opposition members condemned the donation as inadequate.
"Australia is giving $25 million, the British $10 million, why aren't we giving more when we can clearly do so," Liberal deputy leader Michael Ignatieff asked.
The Canadian government and the Red Cross have been working in conjunction on a rapid response project since 2000.
Together, they delivered aid workers and emergency supplies to disaster victims around the globe including those affected by the 2004 tsunami are more recently by hurricanes Dean and Felix in the Caribbean.
The Canadian supplies will be stockpiled in Thailand until the Burmese government allows the supplies in.
Red Cross efforts in China
Meanwhile, Red Cross search and rescue teams continue to look for survivors as hundreds of other volunteers distribute equipment to the communities affected by Monday's devastating earthquake that rocked Sichuan province in China.
Nearby in Chengdu, volunteers are on the ground providing help with rescue and first aid, as well as distributing relief supplies including tents, quilts, water and food.
"Food and drinking water are the main priorities needed now," Yunhong Zhang, Asia program manager for the Canadian Red Cross, said in an official statement Wednesday.
"Medical staff and supplies are also needed to help the tens of thousands injured."
Two Red Cross emergency medical teams from neighbouring provinces are already at work, with three more on the way, but may roads remain blocked making travel difficult throughout the province.
Red Cross workers are also providing shelter to thousands of people with hundreds of tents set up in relief camps in the Xi'an region.
"With more than 80 per cent of the buildings in the town of Beichuan destroyed, there are thousands of people left homeless," says Zhang.
The Red Cross and its sister organizations have allocated $250,000 in emergency funds to support the effort in China with more likely to follow.
The official death toll rose Wednesday to 14,866, said state-run news agency Xinhua.
Xinhua also said nearly 26,000 people remain buried in debris and another 14,000 are missing.
With a report from CTV's Lisa LaFlamme
