Two C-17 carrying 66 tonnes of aid: How India mobilised its army to help quake-hit Venezuela

Two C-17 aircraft carrying 66 tonnes of aid: How India mobilised its army to help earthquake-hit Venezuela - inside Operation Amistad Within 48 hours of the deadly earthquake that struck Venezuela, a 41 member team of the 60 Parachute Field Ambulance, a storied medical unit, left for South America. The air force sent two C-17 transport aircraft, that took 23 hours to reach half the world away, carrying 66 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including over 35 tonnes of relief supplies, medicines and medical equipment, under the banner of Operation Amistad, which means friendship in Spanish. The Indian contingent will be working in coordination with the Venezuelan authorities. Social media has been flooded with visuals of locals thanking the contingent. The army medical detachment, which includes nine officers, is equipped to provide emergency medical care, trauma management, surgery and critical care. The members of India's medical contingent have hit the ground running and have provided immediate relief to those affected. Even Prime Minister Modi has lauded the efforts made by the medical team. The Indian Army has been at the forefront of medical rehabilitation work in areas affected by natural calamities as part of the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) work, both in India and abroad. BHISHM cube End of Article