NEW DELHI, JAN 28
India has diverted an amphibious warfare vessel INS Airavat to Madagascar in the Indian Ocean region to help in rescue efforts after the island nation was hit by a cyclone, the Indian Navy said on Tuesday.
Tropical Cyclone Ava passed through Madagascar on Friday and Saturday, hitting mostly the eastern coast of the island with wind speeds of between 140-190 kph (87-119 mph) and killed 29 people, a Reuters report said. Reports also said that 92,000 people have been affected by the cyclone.
In a tweet on 25 January, the President of Madagascar Andry Rajoelina had requested international mobilisation for the national disaster that has struck Madagascar.
“As the first respondent, it has been decided to immediately divert a Indian Navy Ship Airavat, enroute to Seychelles, to Madagascar,” a person familiar with the development said. The Indian mission has been codenamed “Operation Vanilla.”
“The ship is carrying five pallets each of victualing, clothing and naval stores along with three pallets of medicines. It can, therefore provide clothing, emergency food, temporary shelters, medical assistance, carry out transportation and evacuation of personnel using four large and two medium sized boats, diving and communication assistance,” the person said adding that the Indian ship scheduled to reach Madagascar on Wednesday, January 29, 2020.
“Our assistance to Madagascar is in consonance with Prime Minister (Narendra Modi’s) vision of ‘Security and Growth for all in the Region (SAGAR),” the person said.
India looks at the Indian Ocean as lying within its sphere of influence and has stepped up its outreach to countries in the region including East African states.Last year India had deployed four of its ships to Mozambique when the country was hit by Cyclone Idai.
