Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 10: India on Friday successfully concluded Operation Amistad, its Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission in earthquake-hit Venezuela, with the Indian Army's field hospital providing extensive medical care to affected communities before the contingent returned home.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the medical team treated hundreds of earthquake survivors, performing more than 8,000 medical procedures and laboratory investigations, including over 20 major surgeries, during the relief mission.
As the Indian contingent departed Venezuela, Acting President Delcy Eloina Rodriguez Gomez expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for India's prompt assistance, support and solidarity in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes.
The relief mission began on June 26, when two Indian Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft transported a 41-member team from the Indian Army's 60 Para Field Hospital Unit to Venezuela. The contingent included surgeons, anaesthesiologists, orthopaedic specialists, dental surgeons, physicians, paramedics and support staff.
India also dispatched two Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri (BHISHM) Cubes, advanced portable modular field hospitals designed for rapid deployment during disasters. The mission additionally carried six tonnes of medicines and medical equipment, along with 30 tonnes of emergency relief supplies, including tents, solar-powered lamps, portable water purification systems and generator sets.
The MEA thanked the Venezuelan government for its cooperation and support throughout the humanitarian mission, stating that the successful completion of the operation reflected the close friendship between the two countries.
The ministry said Operation Amistad demonstrated India's commitment to standing by partner nations during times of crisis and embodied the country's humanitarian philosophy of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" — "The World Is One Family."
A farewell ceremony for the Indian contingent was held at Simón Bolívar International Airport in La Guaira, where Venezuela's Vice Minister for International Communication, Rander Peña, thanked the Indian medical personnel and India's Ambassador to Venezuela, P. K. Ashok Babu, for their contribution to the relief effort.
Earlier this week, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil also praised the work of the Indian medical team, acknowledging the critical healthcare services provided at the field hospital established by the Indian Army and thanking Prime Minister Modi for India's humanitarian assistance.