China steps up typhoon aid

The 14, 000 tonne Peace Arc hospital ship leaves China to join the Philippines typhoon relief effort.

It's expected to take about three days to reach Samar province in the east to provide valuable additional health facilities.

The ship has 300 beds, eight operating theatres, and more than 100 medical staff.

It will join an international flotilla of naval ships helping victims of Typhoon Haiyan which has killed at least 4, 000 people and displaced millions.

On the same day 51 members of a medical team from China arrived at Cebu airport.

They were due to head out to help in some of the worst-affected areas on Friday.

The extra assistance follows criticism of China's response to the aftermath of one of the world's biggest typhoons.

China initially said it would give 200, 000 dollars but then increased the figure to 1.5 million.

On Sunday, nine days after the storm hit, it said it was ready to send rescue and medical teams.

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