India to send consignment of 1,000 metric tonnes of rice & one lakh tablets of HCQ to Madagascar

India is sending a consignment of 1,000 metric tonnes of rice and one lakh tablets of HCQ to Madagascar.

 

External Affairs Ministry said, this is in response to the urgent appeal made by Madagascar for international solidarity and assistance to deal with the humanitarian crisis in South of Madagascar due to severe drought.

 

The humanitarian assistance is being delivered on-board INS Jalashwa, which will leave with the food and medical assistance on 3rd of March and is expected to reach the Port of Ehoala in Madagascar between 21st to 24th of March.

 

The prompt Indian assistance to Madagascar was conveyed yesterday by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar in a phone conversation with Foreign Minister of Madagascar Dr. Tehindrazanarivelo Djacoba A.S Oliva.

 

During the conversation, Dr Jaishankar recalled the excellent bilateral ties of



friendship between India and Madagascar and that India has always been among the first responders when it comes to assist the people of Madagascar in such humanitarian crisis.

 

The External Affairs Minister assured his Madagascar counterpart that as a maritime neighbour across the Indian Ocean, Government and people of Madagascar can always count on the support and solidarity of the government and people of India. The two Foreign Ministers also discussed other issues of mutual interest.

 

During this trip, INS Jalashwa will also have on-board an Indian Naval training team which is being deployed in Madagascar for capacity building and training of the Malagasy Special Forces for two weeks.

 

INS Jalashwa will also call at Port Anjoun in the Republic of Comoros where it will deliver a consignment of 1,000 metric tonnes of rice.