India Provides Assistance to Myanmar After Devastating Earthquake
Yangon, Myanmar – In response to the catastrophic 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, India has stepped up its support for the Indian community in the Yangon region through a humanitarian initiative known as Operation Brahma.
Abhay Thakur, the Indian Ambassador to Myanmar, recently delivered 15 tonnes of essential supplies, including rice, cooking oil, and other food items, to a local relief group. The Embassy of India in Myanmar shared this news via social media, highlighting the country’s commitment to assisting its diaspora during these challenging times.
In addition, the Consulate General of India in Mandalay has contributed to the relief efforts by providing a generator, a water purifier, and cooking oil for the Ambika temple kitchen, which serves meals to approximately 4,000 people every day.
India’s humanitarian efforts extend beyond just providing food. The Indian Army has been actively involved in relief operations, particularly in Mandalay, the city hardest hit by the earthquake. As of April 9, the Indian Army’s Field Hospital has treated 1,651 patients, with 281 receiving care on a single day. The facility has also performed seven major and 38 minor surgeries.
Recently, India delivered an additional 442 tonnes of food aid to support the nation’s recovery from this disaster. So far, under Operation Brahma, India has sent a total of 625 metric tonnes of humanitarian aid. Furthermore, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed, consisting of 80 personnel and four trained dogs, to assist with rescue operations on the ground.
Tragically, the earthquake has resulted in significant loss of life, with reports indicating that 3,645 people have died, 5,017 have been injured, and 148 remain unaccounted for. The earthquake affected a vast area of Myanmar, home to 50 million residents, causing widespread destruction across several regions, including the capital city, Naypyidaw.
The earthquake not only disrupted essential services like power and telecommunications but also damaged roads and bridges, hindering efforts to fully assess the extent of the damage. This disaster has intensified the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, which is already grappling with the impacts of civil war, displacing over three million people and leaving nearly 20 million in need of assistance, according to reports from the United Nations.
The international community continues to monitor the situation closely as Myanmar works to recover from this devastating event.
