New Delhi: In response to the massive explosion in Beirut, India on Friday deployed an Indian Air Force C-17 transport aircraft to deliver 58 tonnes of emergency humanitarian aid to Lebanon.
The external affairs ministry said a separate consignment of personal protective equipment (PPE), including surgical gloves and surgical gowns, is being sent to Lebanon following a spike in Covid-19 cases. This will reach Beirut in the coming days, Ministry’s spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said.
“In response to the massive explosion in Beirut on August 4, we had offered our assistance to Lebanon and sought from them an assessment of their requirement. Based on this, an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft was deployed to deliver 58 MT of emergency humanitarian aid on behalf of the government of India to Lebanon,” Mr Srivastava said.
“The aircraft landed in Beirut a few hours back and the aid has been handed over by our ambassador to senior officials of the Lebanese armed forces, which is coordinating all the relief efforts,” he said.
India stands in solidarity with #Lebanon
— Anurag Srivastava (@MEAIndia) August 14, 2020
Today C-17 of @IAF_MCC delivered 58 MT of humanitarian aid from India to the people of Lebanon to assist relief efforts in wake of the tragic #BeirutBlast.
Read @IndiaInLebanon’s press release https://t.co/vd4HQaAXtO for more. pic.twitter.com/GeJi8myRCQ
The aid sent by India includes emergency medical supplies, wheat flour, sugar, pulses, and relief materials such as blankets, dignity kits and sleeping mats, which are required by the large number of people left homeless by the explosion.
“India demonstrates solidarity with the people of Lebanon in the aftermath of the tragic explosions in Beirut. 58 MT of emergency humanitarian aid, including crucial medical and food supplies, is on its way to Beirut in IAF C17 aircraft,” external affairs minister S Jaishankar tweeted.
Nearly 3,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored at Beirut’s port blew up on August 4, virtually wiping out the city’s commercial hub and damaging many parts of the Lebanese capital.
The blasts killed more than 170 people, injured another 6,000 and left nearly 300,000 homeless.
The total damage has been estimated at $10 billion to $15 billion.
