INDIAN SHIPS ARRIVES AT MYANMAR – FIRST SHIPS TO ARRIVE WITH RELIEF SUPPLIES

 

NEW DELHI
07 May 08;Vaisakha 17, 1930
 

     

 

Two Indian Naval Ships carrying essential relief material supplies berthed alongside at naval jetty Yangon at about 1600 hrs local time today. INS Rana and Kirpan arrived with the disaster relief material and not withstanding the grave situation were received by the Myanmar Minister for Social Welfare Relief and Resettlement, Major General Maung Maung Swe. In a brief handing over ceremony, also attended by Deputy Minister Brig General Kyaw Myint and Commander of Ayawady Naval Regional Command Headquarters, Commodore Win Sheim. Indian Embassy Charge-de-Affairs, Mr. Manoj K Bharti was also present on the occasion. Captain Deepak Bali, Commanding Officer INS Rana and Ajay Kochar, Commanding Officer INS Kirpan, handed over the essential relief material consisting of clothing, blanket, medicine, food material and other essentials.

The ships braved very high velocity winds from 50-60 knots, shifting sands and other navigational hazards while navigating through the channel. First hand report indicate massive devastation reminiscent of the Tsunami. Once the relief material is unloaded, the ships are scheduled to return back to India.

Such a fast response in the recent times has been possible due to our ships being on regular deployments in the Indian Ocean Region.
 

 

 

HUMANITARIAN AID AND DISASTER RELIEF TO MYANMAR

 

PORT BLAIR
06 May 08;Vaisakha 16, 1930

 

 

 Myanmar was devastated by the sever Cyclone 'Nargis' on 02 May 2008 which claimed over 13000 lives and rendered thousands more homeless. India was quick to render necessary assistance and support to help the neighboring country recover from the devastation.


As part of assistance 12 Tons of ration, large quantities of clothes and blankets along with high power torches, water purifiers and medicines as relief material have been dispatched by the Government of India to Myanmar from Port Blair by sea.


Two ships of the Indian Navy were specially tasked for the momentous task. Indian Naval ships Rana and Kirpan of the Eastern Fleet have been tasked to transport this relief material arranged and load by the unified command at Port Blair to Yangon. Both the ships sailed out in the night hours of 05 May.


The loading of huge load and timely movement of ships from Port Blair to the cyclone ravaged country by the ships of Eastern Fleet and the active participation of Andaman and Nicobar Command was done in a very synchronized and swift manner. The active involvement of Andaman and Nicobar Command exhibits the growth, ability and reach of the Command to carry out Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief in addition to its operational commitments in the littorals.