Operation Amistad: Indian Army field hospital begins 24x7 free medical services in earthquake-hit Venezuela

NEW DELHI: An Indian Army field hospital deployed in earthquake-hit Venezuela under "Operation Amistad" has become fully operational and is providing free, round-the-clock medical services to those affected by the disaster, officials said on Monday.The Indian Embassy in Venezuela said a team of experienced Indian Army doctors has established a medical camp at the International La Rinconada Racetrack in Caracas.The medical camp is "now fully operational. Services are open 24 hours. All services are free," the embassy said in a post on social media.The field hospital was deployed after two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening.

The quakes, among the strongest to hit the country in more than a century, were felt across the region.The death toll from the twin earthquakes rose to 1,450 on Sunday, while thousands of people have been injured and many remain missing.Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Operation Amistad was underway in Venezuela, with the Indian Army extending "a caring hand to those impacted by the earthquake".

"Indian Army doctors are taking care of people," Jaiswal said, adding that Venezuela's vice health minister and the head of the Government of the Capital District had visited the field hospital.Earlier on Sunday, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said the relief supplies, medical equipment and field hospital unit dispatched by India had reached Venezuela and would strengthen the country's ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts.Under Operation Amistad, launched by India to provide humanitarian assistance following the devastating earthquakes, two Indian Air Force C-17 Globemaster aircraft transported 66 tonnes of relief material to Venezuela.According to the Indian Air Force, the aid package included the Indian Army field hospital, more than 35 tonnes of relief supplies, medicines and medical equipment, as well as two Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri (BHISHM) Cubes, mobile hospitals designed to provide emergency medical care.The two aircraft completed a 23-hour journey covering more than 14,000 kilometres from New Delhi to Caracas. "India stands shoulder to shoulder with the government and the people of Venezuela during this difficult period," MEA had said earlier.