The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s hospital ship, the ‘Peace Ark’, has set sail for a typhoon relief mission to the Philippines, reports Xinhua.

The 300-bed ship with eight operating rooms sounded its horn as it set off from a navy port on Zhoushan island in east China’s Zhejiang Province, and is expected to take three days to reach the devastated Samar Province in the Philippines.

The medical team will conduct first aid and outpatient treatment and perform surgery and epidemic prevention. The vessel is also carrying tents, mobile kitchens, commuter boats and helicopters for medical care.

This is the first time China has sent a military vessel to provide humanitarian medical aid in disaster-hit regions abroad, reported Xinhua citing navy commander Wu Shengli, who attended the departure ceremony.

Source: Xinhua