Indian Army Deploys Medical Team and Relief Supplies to Support Venezuela’s Earthquake Response

As part of Operation Amistad, the Indian Army has established a field hospital in earthquake-affected Venezuela to provide immediate medical assistance to people impacted by the devastating disaster. In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “Operation Amistad is underway in Venezuela. The Army Field Hospital is providing medical care to those affected by the earthquake.” India launched Operation Amistad to support Venezuela after the twin devastating earthquakes that struck the country on June 24, claiming the lives of more than 1,400 people and causing widespread destruction across the nation. The humanitarian assistance dispatched by India arrived in Venezuela on Sunday. Announcing the development, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed confidence that the field hospital unit, relief supplies, medicines, and medical equipment would strengthen the ongoing post-earthquake relief operations in the country. In a post on X, Jaishankar said, “Indian assistance reaches Venezuela. Confident that the Field Hospital Unit, relief supplies, medicines and medical equipment will strengthen the ongoing earthquake relief efforts in the country.” The Embassy of India in Côte d’Ivoire also shared details of the mission on X, stating that two Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft carrying relief materials and medical assistance transited through Abidjan while en route to Venezuela. According to the embassy, the mission included 35 tonnes of relief equipment, an Indian Army field hospital contingent, and two BHISHM Cubes. The medical team comprises 41 personnel, including nine medical officers, who are prepared to provide emergency medical care, trauma management, life-saving surgical assistance, and other essential healthcare services to earthquake victims. The team also transported approximately six tonnes of medical stores and humanitarian relief supplies provided by India. Additionally, one of the two aircraft carried a BHISHM Cube under India's Aarogya Maitri Project (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog, Hita and Maitri). The embassy stated that the deployment of the medical contingent under Operation Amistad reflects India's continued commitment to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, as well as its readiness to provide timely support to friendly nations during times of crisis. Meanwhile, Venezuela's National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said the death toll from the two powerful earthquakes that struck the country on June 24 has risen to 1,450. In the latest official update on the national emergency, Rodríguez said that following the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes, authorities have recorded 430 light to moderate aftershocks across Venezuela. According to a report by Xinhua News Agency, Rodríguez had earlier stated on state television that 3,238 people were injured, while 3,142 families were affected by the disaster. He also expressed condolences to the thousands of victims and said that search and rescue teams continue to work around the clock to locate survivors and assist those affected.