The Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) has organized a huge relief package of funds and materials to help people affected by Typhoon Bilis, the RCSC announced on Wednesday.

The RCSC has delivered funds and relief materials worth at 20.29 million yuan (2.54 million US$) to provinces and regions including Hunan, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and Zhejiang.

The RCSC headquarters in Beijing allocated tents, quilts and disinfectants with a value of more than 2.16 million yuan (270,000 US$) to five provinces and regions.

Branches of the RCSC had sent 15.93 million yuan worth of materials and funds to the affected areas.

The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent donated 1.2 million yuan (150,000 US$) in funding to Hunan Province for the purchase of relief materials.

The Red Cross in Hong Kong and Macao also offered one million yuan (125,000 US$) to the typhoon-hit regions.

The RCSC last Friday urged the public to donate to the Bilis appeal. Bank account and telephone numbers were provided in its announcement.

The fourth typhoon to hit China this year, Bilis caused heavy flooding and rainstorms, leaving at least 612 people dead and 208 missing. The fifth typhoon, Kaemi, is already unleashing heavy rains on coastal regions, but had weakened to a tropical storm and then to a tropical low pressure front on Wednesday.

(Xinhua News Agency July 27, 2006)