India Launches Operation Amistad to Aid Earthquake-Hit Venezuela

India on Friday launched Operation Amistad ("friend" in Spanish) to support earthquake-hit Venezuela, with two Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17 aircraft carrying a field hospital unit and more than 35 tonnes of relief supplies.

Announcing the operation in a post on X, external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar wrote, "Operation Amistad underway! Two @IAF_MCC C17s took-off today for Venezuela with urgent assistance to support their post-earthquake relief efforts." He noted, "The assistance contains an Indian Army @adgpi Field Hospital Unit and over 35 tons of relief supplies, medicines and medical equipment, including two BHISHM Cubes. India is committed to support the Government and people of Venezuela in this difficult time."

The operation was launched a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the devastation caused by the earthquakes, extended condolences to the families of the victims, and pledged to "extend all possible assistance."

Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodriguez thanked PM Modi for his messages of condolence and offers of support following two massive earthquakes near the capital city, Caracas.

Meanwhile, the death toll in the South American nation has risen to 235, while 4,300 people have been injured, health minister Carlos Alvarado announced on Thursday evening (local time).

"As of 7:00 PM today, we have already attended to more than 4,300 injured people, some minor, most minor, but there are also moderate and serious cases. Many of them have required surgical interventions, and unfortunately, we have received around 235 patients who arrived without vital signs or who died upon arrival at our health facilities," the minister said in the interview, according to CNN.

'We share your pain': Indian Army

According to the Army, a 41-member team from the 60 Para Field Hospital, including nine medical officers, departed aboard the two IAF C-17 aircraft.

The contingent is equipped to provide emergency medical care, trauma management, surgery and critical care, is carrying nearly six tonnes of medical supplies and humanitarian aid, including the indigenously developed BHISHM Cube under India's Aarogya Maitri project.

The BHISHM Cube is a rapidly deployable modular field hospital capable of delivering advanced trauma care, emergency surgeries and intensive care for up to 200 patients.

In a message to the people of Venezuela, the Army affirmed that Indians share their pain and stand with them.

"Compartimos su dolor. Estamos con ustedes," it wrote in Spanish.