Covid-19: Indian Naval Ship Airavat arrives at Port of Mombasa, Kenya with food aid as part of Mission Sagar 2

 
In continuation of the ongoing humanitarian mission ‘Sagar-2’, Indian Naval Ship Airavat today arrived at Port of Mombasa, Kenya. The Government of India is providing assistance to Friendly Foreign Countries to overcome natural calamities and COVID-19 pandemic, and towards the same INS Airavat is carrying food aid for the people of South Sudan.
 
The Mission Sagar-2 is aligned with Prime Minister’s vision of SAGAR -Security and Growth for All in the Region. It reiterates India’s position as a dependable partner in Indian Ocean Region with Indian Navy as the principal maritime agency and first responder in the maritime domain. The mission also highlights the importance accorded by India to relations with South Sudan and further strengthens the existing bond.
 
The Ministry of Defence in a statement said that the strong bonds of friendship and brotherly relations between India and countries in Africa have been forged and strengthened over several centuries. India has always stood in solidarity with the countries and people in Africa and has partnered in undertaking development, capacity building and humanitarian assistance programmes.

Earlier India has provided 50 Metric Tons of food aid to the people of Djibouti as part of its assistance to friendly countries to overcome natural calamities and the COVID-19 pandemic. Ambassador of India to Djibouti Ashok Kumar handed over gift of food items to the Secretary-General of the country’s Ministry of Social Affairs Ifrah Ali Ahmed as part of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to Djibouti delivered by INS Airavat. 

In a statement, Ministry of External Affairs said that the step was part of SAGAR 2 (Security and Growth for All in the Region) through which the Government of India is providing 270 Metric Tons of Humanitarian assistance to friendly countries in the region. 

Under Mission Sagar 1, India had reached out to 5 Indian ocean countries– Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros, and Seychelles. The outreach is part of India’s SAGAR –Security and Growth for All in the Region policy and shows how the Indian Navy is the first responder in the maritime domain in the Indian ocean region.