India’s field hospital wins praise in quake-hit Venezuela
The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday shared videos showing people in Venezuela expressing deep gratitude to the Indian medical team at the field hospital established under Operation Amistad for providing treatment to those affected by the devastating earthquake.The videos featured patients receiving medical care, sharing their experiences, and thanking India for its humanitarian assistance at the field hospital.One local resident described her experience of receiving treatment at the field hospital, expressing heartfelt gratitude to the Indian medical team.”I am deeply grateful. I haven’t seen such medical attention in 60 years,” she said. When a patient was asked if her pain had eased after the treatment, she replied, “Yes, I am feeling much better now.”She also thanked the Indian medical team for arranging an ambulance to take her home after her treatment.”I need to especially thank you. I somehow managed to reach here with the help of others, and you are now arranging an ambulance to take us back. I am truly grateful though they say that I don’t need to mention it because we are all one family. We are one people and that is most important. We have this wonderful team standing with us,” she added. Another resident also expressed gratitude to the Indian medical team for setting up the field hospital, describing it as “very helpful” for the local community.Asked about her experience and the treatment recommended by the doctors, she said, “Yes I did not have to pay anything for these (medicines). Thank you very much for all your support. The hospital that you have installed here has been very helpful for the local community. I am thankful to your country.” Indian humanitarian assistance reached earthquake-hit Venezuela under Operation Amistad on Sunday, with New Delhi deploying a field hospital, relief supplies, medicines and advanced medical equipment to support ongoing rescue and relief efforts.As part of the mission, the Indian Air Force deployed two Boeing C-17 Globemaster aircraft on one of the country’s longest humanitarian airlift operations. The aircraft transported a fully operational Indian Army field hospital, more than 35 tonnes of emergency relief supplies, essential medicines, advanced medical equipment and two BHISHM Cubes (Aarogya Maitri portable hospitals).The BHISHM Cube (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog, Hita & Maitri) is a rapidly deployable portable hospital system designed for disaster response. Each unit can treat up to 300 patients and is equipped with trauma care, surgical and diagnostic facilities, portable oxygen generation systems, and medical imaging equipment.The relief mission follows a series of powerful earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela, killing at least 920 people and causing widespread devastation across parts of Caracas and other affected regions.
