A man works on a plane, which is transporting relief materials to China, at the airport in Berlin, May 22, 2008. On Thursday, Germany donated 120 tents and a mobile hospital which can look after 250,000 people in China's earthquake-hit areas. [people.com.cn]

The aid, including enough materials to provide temporary housing for 3,400 families, as well as water purification units, blankets, hygiene kits, basic utilities, baskets and cans to carry clean water, arrived Sunday in Deyang along with five supporting staff.

The first water purification system will be installed today in Luoshui, where the quake destroyed the town's water tower, putting the drinking water of 12,000 people at risk.

"We appreciate the timely aid from our American friends," said Chen Yuanshou, head of the local water plant.

In Dujiangyan, a German mobile hospital, equivalent to a district-level medical institution, is expected to receive its first patients today.

In 25 tents, the hospital includes an operating room, an X-ray room and a laboratory, and has enough supplies to function for several months. It can look after 120 patients and provide medical services for 250,000 people.

In a laboratory, Hannelore Fleischmann, a technician from the German Red Cross, was helping Chinese doctors to categorize the various reagents the German team had brought.

"It's a very pleasant partnership," said Xu.

"We are excited because we can now conduct blood, urine, blood sugar, HIV, liver and kidney tests."

(China Daily May 26, 2008)