Operation Amistad underscores India’s commitment to disaster relief with emergency healthcare and medical support for Venezuela….reports Asia Lite News
India’s humanitarian mission to earthquake-ravaged Venezuela gathered pace on Monday as the Indian Army established a fully equipped field hospital under Operation Amistad, providing emergency medical care to survivors of the devastating twin earthquakes that have left more than 1,450 people dead.
Announcing the development, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Army Field Hospital had begun extending critical medical assistance to those affected by the disaster.
“Operation Amistad underway in Venezuela. Army Field Hospital giving a caring hand to those impacted by the earthquake,” Jaiswal posted on X.
India launched Operation Amistad after two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale struck northern Venezuela on June 24, triggering widespread devastation across several regions.
The humanitarian assistance reached Venezuela on Sunday aboard two Indian Air Force C-17 Globemaster aircraft carrying over 35 tonnes of relief material, medicines, medical equipment and a specialised Indian Army medical contingent.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said the deployment would strengthen ongoing relief operations in the South American nation.
“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,” Jaishankar posted on X.
According to the Indian Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire, the relief mission included a 41-member Indian Army Field Hospital contingent comprising nine medical officers. The team is equipped to provide emergency treatment, trauma management, life-saving surgeries and other essential healthcare services.
The contingent also carried around six tonnes of medical stores and humanitarian supplies. One of the aircraft transported a BHISHM Cube (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog, Hita and Maitri) under India’s Aarogya Maitri initiative, designed for rapid deployment during humanitarian emergencies.
The embassy described the mission as a reflection of India’s enduring commitment to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, highlighting New Delhi’s readiness to support friendly nations during times of crisis.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said the death toll has climbed to 1,450, with more than 3,200 people injured and over 3,100 families affected. Authorities have also recorded around 430 aftershocks since the twin quakes struck, while thousands of rescue workers continue round-the-clock search and relief operations.
