The Indian warship INS Kesari delivered food aid and defence equipment to Mozambique in a SAGAR mission.
India's large amphibious warship INS Kesari has delivered 500 metric tons of food aid, two fast interceptor craft and self defence military equipment to Mozambique, in the eighth such deployment to 15 'friendly foreign countries' under Mission SAGAR (security and growth for all in the region).
The 500 metric tons of food aid was shipped by INS Kesari, which entered the Maputo Port on Saturday, to support Mozambique in coping with the ongoing drought and concurrent challenges of pandemic in the country.
"With India also remaining committed to supporting the capacity building efforts of the armed forces of Mozambique, the two fast interceptor craft and self-defence equipment were handed over to them," a Navy officer said.
The Mission SAGAR deployments to India's extended maritime neighbourhood are being conducted in close coordination with the ministry of external affairs and other agencies of the Indian government.
INS Kesari had undertaken similar missions in May-June 2020 to provide humanitarian and medical assistance to Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros, including deployments of the Navy's medical assistance teams in multiple locations.
"The Navy has deployed ships to 15 friendly foreign countries under SAGAR missions since May last year. These deployments spanned over 215 days at sea and delivered a cumulative assistance of more than 3,000 metric tons of food aid, over 300 metric tons of liquid medical oxygen, 900 oxygen concentrators and 20 cryogenic container," the officer said.
"While undertaking these missions, Indian ships have traversed a cumulative distance of close to 40,000 nautical miles, which is nearly twice the circumference of earth," he added.
Source: The Times of India