India's 66-tonne relief mission reaches quake-hit Venezuela, field hospital deployed
India's relief supplies, medical equipment and a field hospital unit sent to earthquake-hit Venezuela under Operation Amistad have reached the country, External Affairs Minister S
India's relief supplies, medical equipment and a field hospital unit sent to earthquake-hit Venezuela under Operation Amistad have reached the country, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday. He said the humanitarian assistance would support the relief work underway after the powerful earthquakes. In a post on X, Jaishankar said, "Indian assistance reaches Venezuela. Confident that the Field Hospital Unit, relief supplies, medicines and medical equipment, will bolster ongoing post-earthquake relief efforts in the country. #OperationAmistad." He also shared photographs of the consignment. DR S Jaishankar on X Read Full Story The Indian Air Force also posted an update on X, saying, "Responding with speed, reach and compassion, two #IndianAirForce C-17 Globemaster III aircraft completed a demanding 23-hour flight to Venezuela, covering an aerial distance of over 14,000 km from Delhi to Caracas." The aircraft landed at Maiqueta International Airport in Caracas carrying 66 tonnes of humanitarian aid.
The load included an Indian Army field hospital, more than 35 tonnes of relief supplies, medicines and medical equipment, and two BHISHM Cubes. The IAF said this was "demonstrating India's capability to deliver hope across continents whenever called upon" and added, "This transoceanic deployment reaffirms India's growing role as a responsible first responder and a reliable humanitarian partner. Under Operation Amistad, launched by India to provide humanitarian assistance to quake-hit Venezuela, two IAF C-17 Globemaster aircraft carrying relief supplies and a 41-member rescue team had left on Friday to support ongoing relief and rescue efforts there.
On June 26, the Ministry of External Affairs had said, "India stands shoulder to shoulder with the government and the people of Venezuela during this difficult period." The 7.2 and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes that struck on Wednesday evening were among the strongest to hit Venezuela in more than a century and were felt across the region. The death toll from the two quakes rose to 1,430 on Saturday, and the number of casualties may increase further, with thousands reported missing. India's assistance has now reached Venezuela as relief efforts continue in the aftermath of the disaster.
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