MOSCOW. Feb 18 (Interfax) - Russians wishing to leave Syria may board Russian Emergency Situations Ministry planes, which will take humanitarian aid to Syria, ministry spokesperson Irina Rossius told Interfax.
"Ilyushin Il-76 and Il-62 planes will take humanitarian aid to Syria. They are ready to take aboard Russians wishing to leave Syria on their way back," she said.
On January 23, two planes from the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry transported a group of Russian citizens permanently residing in Syria and their families to Moscow from Beirut. In all, 77 people, including 27 children, arrived in Moscow.
"The Russian Foreign Ministry jointly with the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry will continue to render assistance in the return of Russian citizens from the Syrian Arab Republic if necessary," the Russian Foreign Ministry announced back then.
The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry reported on Monday it was preparing to send two planes with 44 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Syria.
Ilyushin Il-62 and Il-76 jets from the ministry will take aboard respectively 11.02 tonnes and 33.5 tonnes of humanitarian aid, the report said.
The date of the planes' departure to Syria has not been reported.