New Delhi, Nov 3 (IANS): India has sent food and relief materials to the disaster-hit Sudan, which has declared a three-month emergency after experiencing the worst flooding in 30 years.

The Indian Navy has been called in to provide food to the African country as part of Security and Growth for All in the Region (Sagar) mission.

Flooding in Sudan this year led to the deaths of more than 100 people and affected 875,000 others.

Water level in the Nile river was recorded at the highest due to torrential rains leading to floods, which have caused widespread damage to homes, crops and livelihoods.

To make the things worse, according to official data from the World Health Organization, Covid-19 virus transmission has also continued in Sudan.

The catastrophic flooding and the pandemic has led to rise in food and health costs in Sudan and that driven up the number of people in need.

The UN Human Rights Council and other aide agencies have rushed in to provide emergency aide wherever required.

India too is doing its bit to help the disaster-hit country.

India has supplied a consignment of 100 tonnes of food aid for the people of Sudan as part of the Sagar mission.

The term 'Sagar' was coined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 during his Mauritius visit with a focus on the blue economy.

The Indian Navy said that as part of 'Mission Sagar-II', Indian Naval Ship Airavat entered Port Sudan on Tuesday and provided the relief materials and food items.

India is providing assistance to friendly foreign countries to overcome natural calamities and the pandemic, and towards the same INS Airavat carried a consignment of 100 tonnes of food aid for the people of Sudan.

Mission Sagar-II, follows the first 'Mission Sagar' undertaken in May-June 2020, wherein India reached out to the Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros, and provided food aid and medicines.

As part of Mission Sagar-II, Indian Naval Ship Airavat will deliver food aid to Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti and Eritrea.

Mission Sagar-II, is in line with the Prime Minister's vision of Sagar and highlights the importance accorded by India to relations with her maritime neighbours and further strengthens the existing bond.

The Indian Navy is progressing this mission in close coordination with the Ministries of Defence and External Affairs, and other agencies of India.