Australia sends planes to Pakistan

Australia will send two military planes carrying emergency supplies to help the
people of flood-ravaged Pakistan.
Two weeks of flooding have killed 1500 people and affected at least 12 million people.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced the two Royal Australian Air Force C-17
Globemaster aircraft will depart this week, laden with tents, plastic sheeting,
water purification equipment, generators and birthing kits.
Australia has already committed $10 million to help flood victims.
"I want to express the support of the Australian people for the people of Pakistan
in the face of the terrible floods they are enduring," Ms Gillard said in a
statement.
She said the opposition had agreed to the deployment of Defence Force assets to
Pakistan.
Meanwhile, eight Australians are unaccounted for in neighbouring India, which has
also been hit by floods.
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said while the eight
were unaccounted for, it had not yet been confirmed whether they had been in the
affected area.
The Australian High Commission has been trying to make contact but that's been
hampered by communication problems.
There are no reports of Australians killed or injured.