What’s in the news?

• As part of yet another deployment undertaken by the Indian Navy since 2020 under Mission SAGAR, Indian Naval Ship Kesari entered the Port of Maputo, Mozambique recently. 
• This is the eighth such deployment in consonance with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).
• These deployments were conducted in solidarity with India’s extended Maritime Neighbourhood and highlights the importance accorded by India to these special relationships. 
• 500 Tons of food aid has been shipped by INS Kesari to support the efforts of Government of Mozambique to cope with ongoing drought and concurrent challenges of pandemic. 
• INS Kesari, a Landing Ship Tank (Large) had undertaken similar mission in May – June 2020 to provide humanitarian and medical assistance to Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros, including deployment of Medical Assistance Teams of the Indian Navy in multiple locations.
• Since May 2020, the Indian Navy has deployed ships to 15 Friendly Foreign Countries under SAGAR missions. These deployments spanned over 215 days at sea have delivered a cumulative assistance of more than 3,000 MT of food aid, over 300 MT LMO, 900 Oxygen Concentrators and 20 ISO containers. 

Reference:

1. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1785282