India sends army field hospital, 35 tonnes of aid to Venezuela

India has responded to the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela by sending crucial aid, including an army field hospital and more than 35 tons of relief supplies. The Indian Air Force transported the urgent assistance via two C-17 heavy lift aircraft.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar announced the deployment, highlighting that the aid package contains medicines and medical equipment. Notably, the supplies include two BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog, Hita and Maitri) Cubes. These are modular medical emergency systems designed as rapidly deployable mobile hospitals to provide critical care during the "golden hour" after a disaster.

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India is committed to support the Government and people of Venezuela in this difficult time.

The Indian relief effort has been named "Operation Amistad," a Spanish word meaning friendship, reflecting the solidarity with Venezuela during this difficult time. "India is committed to support the Government and people of Venezuela in this difficult time," Jaishankar stated. Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were also airlifted to aid in search and rescue operations.

The earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, struck a minute apart, causing widespread devastation. Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez reported a death toll of 589 and 2,980 injured, with over 200 aftershocks recorded. International rescue teams from Switzerland, El Salvador, Mexico, and the Netherlands have also joined the relief efforts.

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The assistance sent by India includes a field hospital unit of the Indian Army and more than 35 tonnes of relief supplies, medicines and medical equipment.