By Xinhua,

Islamabad : Pakistan Sunday dispatched two military C-130 aircraft with relief goods on board to the cyclone-hit Myanmar.

The goods include tents, plastic sheets, mosquito nets, medicines and water purification tablets, said a government statement.

Myanmar has said nearly 23,000 people have died and 42,000 are missing after the tropical storm Nargis hit the country May 3 - the worst cyclone to hit Asia since 1991.

These relief flights also carried other urgently needed supplies for the survivors of last week's devastating cyclone, the statement said.

The UN has launched an appeal of $187 million in aid for Myanmar. It said that as many as 1.5 million people could have been affected by the cyclone.

"The people of Pakistan are deeply shocked and saddened after the devastating cyclone which hit Myanmar last week, resulting in the loss of thousands of lives and valuable property," additional secretary of Pakistan's cabinet division Atta Muhammad Raja said.

He said Pakistan will set up a fully equipped mobile hospital in Myanmar after the authorities in that country gives the permission.