India launches Operation Amistad, rushes field hospital and relief aid to quake-ravaged Venezuela

India has dispatched urgent humanitarian assistance to earthquake-hit Venezuela under "Operation Amistad", as part of its disaster relief response efforts, following a series of powerful earthquakes that have caused widespread devastation in the South American nation.

Announcing the development, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar posted on X, “Indian assistance reaches Venezuela. Confident that the Field Hospital Unit, relief supplies, medicines & medical equipment, will bolster ongoing post-earthquake relief efforts in the country. #OperationAmistad”

The Indian Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire also detailed the scale of the mission in a post on X, stating that two Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft transited through Abidjan en route to Venezuela carrying relief materials and medical support.

The embassy said, “Operation Amistad - Responding to the devastating earthquake that struck northern Venezuela, the two Indian Airforce C17s transited through Abidjan enroute to Venezuela carrying 35 T of relief equipment, an Indian Army Field Hospital contingent and two BHISHM cubes.”

“The contingent comprises 41 personnel, including nine medical officers, and is equipped to provide emergency medical care, trauma management, life-saving surgical support and other essential healthcare services to those affected by the earthquake,” it added.

The team is carrying approximately six tonnes of medical stores and humanitarian relief supplies provided by the Ministry of External Affairs. In addition, one of the two aircraft is transporting a BHISHM Cube (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog, Hita & Maitri) under India’s Aarogya Maitri Project.

“The dispatch of the medical contingent under Operation Amistad reflects India’s enduring commitment to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and its readiness to extend timely support to friendly nations in times of crisis,” the embassy stated.

Venezuela was struck by two major earthquakes within seconds of each other, earlier on Wednesday.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported a magnitude 7.1 quake at 2204 GMT, followed just one minute later by an even stronger magnitude 7.5 tremor. Both struck near the coastal town of Moron, about 160 km west of Caracas.

The quakes were shallow with a depth of 10 km, which could intensify their destructive impact.

The death toll from the earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Saturday has risen to 1,430, Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said on state television that 3,238 people have been injured and 3,142 families affected by the disaster.

After the two powerful magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes, Venezuela has recorded 430 light to moderate aftershocks, Rodriguez said in the latest government update on the national emergency.

"Except for the headline, no changes have been made to the story, as it has been sourced from IANS."