India Launches 'Operation Amistad' to Provide Critical Earthquake Relief to Venezuela

New Delhi: India launched a relief operation for Venezuela. It is called 'Operation Amistad'. Amistad means friendship in Spanish. Two Indian Air Force planes took off carrying help. The planes are loaded with medical supplies. They have BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog, Hita & Maitri) Cubes, that is the portable hospital units. They also have medicines, and relief equipment. The total is 35 tons of aid. A medical team from the Indian Army is on the planes. There are 41 people in which nine are doctors. They will treat the injured and will do the emergency surgery. They will also provide healthcare whatever will be needed.

Why this much had offered?

Venezuela got hit by two earthquakes on Wednesday. The first was 7.2 magnitude and the second one was of 7.5. They came one minute apart. Buildings had fell in which several people had died. According to recent reports, the death toll now reached to 589 and more than 1,500 got injured.

What India is sending?

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced the operation on X. He said India is committed to help Venezuela in this difficult time. The planes left from Hindon Air Force Station and are heading towards Venezuela now. The medical team has six tons of supplies including the medicines, bandages, and the surgical kits. The BHISHM Cubes are important as these are the portable hospital units. It can set up anywhere and can start treating people fast.

How much disastrous it was?

Venezuela has not seen earthquakes like this in over 100 years. Buildings had collapsed and roads got broken. Electricity power also went out and phone lines and signals went down. The worst damage is in Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela. La Guaira also got hit hard. Thousands of people are missing. The situation is there like the people do not know where their families are. President Delcy Rodriguez declared a state of emergency. She said that the government will create a 200 million dollar fund to rebuild. Hospitals, houses and roads need repair.