"PYONGYANG, May 1 (Xinhuanet) -- The last batch of assistance gratis goods provided by the Chinese government arrived late on Friday in Sinuiju, a border city of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The relief goods included gasoline and diesel oil, glass and materials for plastic-steel windows as well as food. All the relief goods were transported to Ryongchon overnight, where a massive train explosion on April 22 killed at least 154 people and injured 1,300 others. Over 8,000 houses were damaged orruined to varying extent. China has so far provided the DPRK with 2,000 woolen carpets, 300 tents, as well as food, medicine, medical apparatuses and equipment, building materials and other relief goods. Two days after the train blast, the Chinese government promisedto provide relief goods worth 10 million yuan (about 1.2 million US dollars) to the DPRK. China stands as the first country to provide relief goods to the DPRK followed by South Korea, Russia and Syria. By the end of April, the DPRK has received over 18 million dollars worth of relief goods from around the world."
Syria is one of the first countries helping out with relief efforts? That is interesting!
The Syrians just happened to be in the neighborhood so they decided to pitch in with the search and rescue operation.