Indian Army’s 60 Para Field Hospital loading relief material and medical supplies on an Indian Air Force C-17 transport plane, which departed for Venezuela on June 26, 2026. (Photo: Indian Army)
New Delhi: India has launched Operation Amistad, a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mission to Venezuela after a powerful earthquake caused widespread destruction and heavy loss of life in the South American country.
Two Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft departed on June 26 with relief supplies and a 41-member rescue and medical team to support ongoing search, rescue and emergency care efforts, officials said.
The shipment includes an Indian Army field hospital unit, a self-reliant medical task force, around 30 tonnes of relief material, 6 tonnes of medicines and medical equipment, and two BHISHM cube portable hospitals. The Indian team will work with Venezuelan authorities in areas affected by the quake, which the US Geological Survey described as a severe seismic doublet.
The agency said a magnitude 7.2-magnitude foreshock was followed 39 seconds later by a 7.5-magnitude mainshock at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres.
“India said it stands with the people and government of Venezuela and is ready to provide further assistance if required.”
Photo: Indian Army
Indian Army’s effort
Responding to the devastating earthquake, the Indian Army has dispatched a specialised medical contingent to assist in humanitarian relief efforts in the affected region.
The medical team from 60 Para Field Hospital departed this afternoon from Hindon Air Force Station and is currently en route to Venezuela aboard two Indian Air Force aircraft.
The contingent comprises 41 personnel, including nine medical officers, and is equipped to provide emergency medical care, trauma management, life-saving surgical support and other essential healthcare services to those affected by the earthquake.
The team is carrying approximately six tonnes of medical stores and humanitarian relief supplies provided by the Ministry of External Affairs. In addition, one of the two aircraft is transporting a BHISHM Cube (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog, Hita & Maitri) under India’s Aarogya Maitri Project.
Photo: Indian Army
What is BHISHM Cube?
A state-of-the-art, indigenous, rapidly deployable modular medical facility, the BHISHM Cube is designed specifically for disaster and humanitarian response, as India Sentinels had reported in August 2024.
Comprising compact, self-contained medical modules, it can be quickly assembled into a fully functional field hospital capable of delivering advanced trauma care, emergency surgeries, intensive care support and essential medical treatment for up to 200 patients.
Equipped with portable ventilators, patient monitors, diagnostic equipment, surgical instruments, power generation and oxygen support systems, the BHISHM Cube significantly enhances India’s capability to provide swift and effective medical assistance during humanitarian crises anywhere in the world.
“The dispatch of the medical contingent under Operation Amistad reflects India’s enduring commitment to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and its readiness to extend timely support to friendly nations in times of crisis,” an Army official said.
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