New Delhi (NVI): India today sent 70 tonnes of emergency humanitarian aid to Lebanon, including medicines, food and relief supplies in the wake of deadly explosions in Beirut that destroyed the port city and killed more than 150 people.
An Indian Air Force C17 aircraft, which left Hindon airbase this morning with the essential supplies, landed in Beirut with the essential supplies.
This morning an IAF C-17 aircraft landed in Beirut with about 70 MT of vital emergency humantarian aid for #Lebanon– medicines, food and relief supplies. @DrSJaishankar@MEAIndia @IndianDiplomacy @IAF_MCC @SecySanjay @LebarmyOfficial @PIB_India @NNALeb pic.twitter.com/cW2yum0F40
— India in Lebanon (@IndiaInLebanon) August 14, 2020
The aid was handed over by Suhel Ajaz Khan, Indian ambassador to Lebanon, and other officials of the embassy, to the senior officers of the Lebanon army who are coordinating the relief supplies.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in a tweet said that India has expressed solidarity with the people of Lebanon in the aftermath of the tragic explosions.
“India demonstrates solidarity with the people of Lebanon in the aftermath of the tragic explosions in Beirut. 58 MT of emergency humanitarian aid, including crucial medical and food supplies, is on its way to Beirut in IAF C17 aircraft,” he tweeted.
India demonstrates solidarity with the people of Lebanon in the aftermath of the tragic explosions in Beirut. 58 MT of emergency humanitarian aid, including crucial medical and food supplies, is on its way to Beirut in IAF C17 aircraft. pic.twitter.com/JIfvdrvSYc
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 14, 2020
Sanjay Bhattacharya, Secretary in Ministry of External Affairs also tweeted on the development. “This morning, @IAF_MCC #C17 left #Hindon base for #Lebanon with 70 tonnes humanitarian assistance following #BeirutBlast. Medicines, food supplies, blankets and personal kits will help relief efforts and fight against #coronavirus @MEAIndia @DrSJaishankar @IndiaInLebanon,” he said in a tweet.
This morning, @IAF_MCC #C17 left #Hindon base for #Lebanon with 70 tonnes humanitarian assistance following #BeirutBlast. Medicines, food supplies, blankets and personal kits will help relief efforts and fight against #coronavirus @MEAIndia @DrSJaishankar @IndiaInLebanon pic.twitter.com/TddO31PvCV
— Sanjay Bhattacharyya (@SecySanjay) August 14, 2020
In the August 4 incident, 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive chemical used in fertilisers, stored at Beirut’s port blew up, sending a massive shock wave across the city, bursting out windows and damaging buildings.
At least 158 people were killed and over 6,000 injured, while the shock waves caused damage estimated at USD one billion to at least half of the city’s infrastructure.
-ARK
