India launched Operation Sadbhav on Sunday to provide humanitarian assistance to three countries affected by Typhoon Yagi, the most powerful storm to hit the South China Sea in three decades.
A consignment of 35 tons of humanitarian assistance, including water purification items, water containers, blankets, kitchen utensils, and solar lanterns, among others, was airlifted by a special Indian Air Force flight to Vietnam.
India launches #OperationSadbhav.
Demonstrating our solidarity with the people affected by Typhoon Yagi, India is dispatching aid to Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos.
➡️ 10 tons of aid including dry ration, clothing and medicines left for 🇲🇲 onboard @indiannavy INS Satpura today.… pic.twitter.com/ooR0ipnxqI
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 15, 2024
A second IAF aircraft carrying 10 tonnes of relief material including hygiene kits, blankets, mosquito nets and repellents, sleeping bags, gensets, water purifiers, water purification tablets and disinfectants was sent to the Government of Lao PDR.
Another 10 tonnes of aid, including dry rations, clothing and medicines, was sent to Myanmar aboard the Indian Navy warship INS Satpura.
Typhoon Yagi, which made landfall early last week with wind speeds of over 145 kmph, left a massive toll of death and destruction in its wake. Over a 1000 deaths were reported from these three countries, while floods and landslides left several thousand homeless.
A Vietnamese minister said agricultural and infrastructural losses caused by the typhoon might exceed US$1.63 billion.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External affairs minister S Jaishankar had conveyed India’s sympathy and solidarity with Vietnam immediately after the typhoon struck, and pledged their support.
— Việt Hoàng (@justtodo18) September 15, 2024
Similarly, floods and landslides massive damage to property and infrastructure including power lines and agricultural land affecting around 40,000 people in northern Laos, while Myanmar reported over 500 deaths due to the typhoon.
“The Government of India has launched Operation Sadbhav for extending emergency humanitarian assistance in the wake of the floods caused by Typhoon Yagi,” said a Ministry of External Affairs release Sunday.
“India has been among the first responders in providing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) to impacted countries. Operation Sadbhav is part of India’s broader effort to contribute to HADR within the ASEAN region, in line with its longstanding ‘Act East Policy’,” it said.
