New Delhi (NVI): India has sent its Naval ship INS Kesari to deliver Covid-19 assistance including medicines, medical personnel and food items to five Indian ocean countries — Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles — to deal with the pandemic.
The ship has been despatched under ‘Mission Sagar’ to help its partners in the Indian ocean.
“Responding to their requests for assistance in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, Government of India has sent Indian Naval Ship Kesari to Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles, carrying on board two Medical Assistance Teams, consignments of Covid related essential medicines and essential food items,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement today.
The medical assistance teams will be deployed in Mauritius and Comoros, helping their governments to deal with Covid emergency and dengue fever (in case of Comoros), MEA said.
The Indian Naval Ship will deliver consignments of Covid related essential medicines to Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles and about 600 tonnes of food items to Maldives. In addition, in case of Mauritius, a special consignment of Ayurvedic medicines is also being sent, the Ministry said.
The consignments meant for Madagascar and Comoros also includes Hydroxychloroquine tablets, which have already been sent earlier to Mauritius, Maldives and Seychelles.
‘Mission Sagar’ is inspired by Prime Minister’s vision of SAGAR – Security and Growth for All in the Region, MEA said.
“India has already supported the efforts of the Governments of Maldives, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Seychelles by providing them consignments of Covid-19 related essential medicines. A team of select medical personnel was also dispatched to Maldives to augment the preparedness of the Maldivian Government to fight this crisis,” MEA said in a statement.
Meanwhile, INS Jalashwa reached Kochi today with first batch of Indians brought back from the Maldives. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also tweeted: “INSJalashwa hs arrivd in Kochi wth the 1st batch of 698 Indians frm Maldives. Thank @indiannavy DefenceMinIndia
& Kerala Govt fr support&cooperation. Excellent work by HC @sunjaysudhir &his Team @HCIMaldives. Now on to the next one!.”
INSJalashwa hs arrivd in Kochi wth the 1st batch of 698 Indians frm Maldives.
Thank @indiannavy @DefenceMinIndia & Kerala Govt fr support&cooperation.
Excellent work by HC @sunjaysudhir &his Team @HCIMaldives. Now on to the next one!@MOS_MEA #VandeBharatMission #SamudraSetu pic.twitter.com/uNNrRQxZvX
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 10, 2020
