India has intensified humanitarian assistance to earthquake-hit Venezuela under Operation Amistad, deploying military medical teams and emergency aid as casualties continue to rise, reports India Daily News Desk
India has continued to expand its humanitarian relief mission in earthquake-ravaged Venezuela, with Indian Army medical teams providing life-saving treatment and emergency healthcare as the death toll from last month’s twin earthquakes climbed to more than 3,500.
The relief operation, launched under Operation Amistad, has become one of India’s latest international humanitarian assistance missions, reflecting New Delhi’s commitment to supporting countries affected by natural disasters through rapid medical and emergency response.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Indian Army doctors stationed at a field hospital in Venezuela remain actively engaged in treating survivors and assisting local health authorities in relief operations.
In a message posted on social media, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Army Field Hospital continues to make a meaningful difference through its ongoing humanitarian work in the South American nation.
As part of the mission, India has also donated two BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog, Hita and Maitri) emergency medical cubes to Venezuela. The portable medical units are designed to function as rapidly deployable field hospitals capable of delivering advanced emergency healthcare in disaster-hit areas.
According to the Indian Embassy in Venezuela, Indian Army doctors conducted live demonstrations for Venezuelan military and medical personnel on the deployment and operation of the BHISHM cubes, enabling local authorities to utilise the equipment effectively during rescue and relief efforts.
The humanitarian mission comes as Venezuela continues to battle the aftermath of two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude that struck the country on June 24, triggering widespread devastation across several regions.
The latest official figures released by Venezuelan authorities show that at least 3,535 people have lost their lives, while 16,740 people have been injured. Nearly 17,854 people remain homeless, with thousands of buildings either destroyed or severely damaged.
Authorities said rescue teams have so far pulled 6,462 survivors from collapsed structures, while relief assistance has reached nearly 86,800 families affected by the disaster.
The country has also experienced 995 aftershocks since the twin earthquakes struck, complicating rescue operations and raising concerns over further structural collapses in already weakened buildings.
To accommodate displaced families, the Venezuelan government has established 80 temporary relief camps, while almost 29,600 rescuers remain deployed across affected regions. The rescue effort includes more than 3,200 international personnel drawn from several countries assisting local emergency agencies.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez earlier declared seven days of national mourning in memory of those killed in the disaster, describing the tragedy as one that had deeply scarred the nation.
On Venezuela’s 215th Independence Day, Rodríguez publicly thanked countries that had extended humanitarian assistance, paying special tribute to rescue and medical teams from India, the United Kingdom, Qatar, France, Barbados, Brazil and Argentina.
In a message shared on social media, she praised the courage and dedication of the international rescue personnel and said Venezuela would never forget their solidarity during one of the country’s darkest moments.
Indian medical teams have earned particular appreciation from survivors receiving treatment at the Army Field Hospital. Videos released by the Ministry of External Affairs showed several patients and family members expressing gratitude to Indian doctors for providing timely medical care and compassionate support during the emergency.
One woman whose son was undergoing treatment thanked India and the medical personnel for their assistance, highlighting the role played by the Indian field hospital in caring for those affected by the disaster.
Operation Amistad forms part of India’s broader humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) framework, under which New Delhi has increasingly deployed military, medical and logistical assets to assist countries struck by natural calamities. In recent years, India has undertaken similar relief missions following earthquakes, cyclones and other emergencies across Asia, Africa and the wider Global South.
