India dispatched two [1] IAF C-17 aircraft carrying medical teams and relief supplies to Venezuela on Friday afternoon following devastating twin earthquakes.
The deployment, titled Operation Amistad, represents a significant humanitarian effort to provide critical care in a region where infrastructure has been crippled by seismic activity.
Two [1] aircraft departed from Hindon Air Force Station carrying a specialized Indian Army medical team from the 60 Para Field Hospital [2]. The shipment includes Bhishma portable field-hospital units and more than 35 tonnes [3] of relief supplies intended for the earthquake-affected regions.
"The medical team from 60 Para Field Hospital departed in the afternoon of June 26 from Hindon Air Force Station and is currently en route to Venezuela aboard two Indian Air Force aircraft," a Ministry of Defence spokesperson said.
The mission follows twin earthquakes that have killed at least 235 people [3]. The Indian contingent aims to provide emergency medical care, and rescue assistance to survivors in the wake of the disaster.
The use of C-17 aircraft allows for the rapid transport of heavy equipment, such as the Bhishma units, which can be deployed quickly to create operational medical facilities in remote or damaged areas. These units are designed to function as makeshift hospitals when permanent structures are destroyed, a necessity given the scale of the reported casualties [3].
“India dispatched two IAF C-17 aircraft carrying medical teams and relief supplies to Venezuela”
This deployment underscores India's strategy of using its military logistics and specialized medical units to project soft power through disaster diplomacy. By deploying the Bhishma portable hospitals, India is providing a high-tier medical capability that can operate independently of local infrastructure, which is often the primary challenge in earthquake recovery zones.
