New Delhi provides ready-to-eat food, clothing, medicines for Myanmar flood-affected people

Lu Htet Naing, Narinjara News, 18 September 2024

The Indian Union government in New Delhi provided humanitarian assistance comprising ready-to-eat food, clothing, medicines etc to the flood-affected people in Myanmar.

The aid arrived at Naypyitaw international airport in the evening hours of 17 September.

The supplied  materials include 1,000 mosquito nets, 3,000 ready-to-eat food items, 500 kitchen kits, 1,000 solar lamps, two generators, disinfectant fluids, bleaching powder and medical supplies, totaling over 30 tons.

India’s foreign minister S Jaishankar announced on social media that New Delhi begins supplying  aid to countries severely impacted by Typhoon Yagi, including Myanmar.

"On 15 September, India launched Operation Sadbhav to provide aid to Myanmar, Vietnam, and Laos. This operation is part of India’s broader effort to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief within the ASEAN region in line with its Act East policy,” he added.

At the handover ceremony of the aid materials at Naypyitaw, the attendees included U Ko Ko Hlaing, Union minister of ministry 2 at the office of military junta, permanent secretary of the social welfare, relief and resettlement ministry, director general and officials of foreign affairs  ministry,  representatives from the Myanmar Red Cross Society and Abhay Thakur, Indian ambassador to Myanmar along with his team.

Following the recent typhoon  in the South China Sea, Myanmar experienced heavy rainfalls and flash floods since 11 September.

The United Nations office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs (UNOCHA) reported on 16 September that flash floods affected nearly 60 townships across 9 regions and States  including Naypyitaw, Bago, Kayah, Karen, Magway, Mandalay, Mon, and eastern & southern Shan State.

UNOCHA stated that more than 600,000 people were affected by the recent wave of flood where many went missing and hundreds died.

The junta reported that 226 people died and 77 went missing due to the recent flood.

The coordinating center for humanitarian assistance on disaster management (AHA center) provided emergency aid worth $337,148. This includes family items, kitchen kits, tents, tarpaulins, shelter repair kits, water purifiers, and other supplies. The total shipment weighs 59,360 kilograms  and it was transported by Myanmar National Airlines (MNA) and Myanmar Airways International (MAI) to Yangon and Naypyitaw international airports.

Photograph: Indian Embassy in Myanmar