New Delhi, Mar 19 (IANS): India will be providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) to Mozambique that was hit by a severe cyclone, causing loss of lide and property, the External Affairs Ministry said on Monday.

Mozambique, hit by Category 4 tropical cyclone 'IDAI', had requested aid from India.

India has decided to divert three Indian Naval Ships (INS Sujatha, INS Shardul and INS Sarathi) to the port city of Beira to provide immediate relief to the affected people.

The ships will provide relief material in the form of food, clothes and medicine. The ships have three doctors and five nurses to provide immediate medical help.

"In this hour of tragedy, the government of India stands ready to extend support to the affected people. India has been extending humanitarian assistance to Mozambique and had provided $10 million for food grains in 2017, after it suffered food shortage as a result of natural calamities," the Ministry said in a statement.