The first batch of emergency relief materials, sent by the Red Cross Society of China, to war-torn Libya, has departed from Tianjin airport. The supplies weigh about 90 tonnes and include rice, cooking oil and medicine.

Workers help load relief materials for Libya onto a plane at an airport in Tianjin, August 17, 2011.

They're scheduled to arrive in Benghazi, Thursday afternoon Beijing time. The Red Cross Society of China, has decided to offer TWO batches of aid to Libya, during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The aid is worth about eight million US dollars.

Workers help load relief materials for Libya onto a plane at an airport in Tianjin, August 17, 2011.