Operation Sadbhav: India sends humanitarian aid to typhoon-hit Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar

Typhoon Yagi, the most powerful tropical cyclone Asia has encountered this year and the second strongest storm worldwide after Hurricane Beryl, has caused severe damage across Southeast Asia.

Countries including the Philippines, China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand have been affected, with Vietnam suffering the most significant impact.

As part of Mission Sadbhav, India has sent 10 tons of aid, including dry rations, clothing, and medicines, to Myanmar aboard the Indian naval ship INS Satpura.

The Eastern Naval Command, in coordination with the Eastern Fleet and other supporting units, successfully completed the overnight loading of humanitarian aid pallets—comprising drinking water, rations, and medicines—onto the warship in Visakhapatnam for deployment to Yangon.

“This rapid mobilisation, executed on short notice, demonstrates the Navy’s capability to swiftly address humanitarian crises in the region,” news agency PTI quoted Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal saying.

In addition, 35 tons of aid to Vietnam, including water purification items, water containers, blankets, kitchen utensils, and solar lanterns, was dispatched by the Indian Airforce aboard a C-17 military transport aircraft.

The IAF has also transported ten tons of humanitarian relief supplies to Laos, including hygiene kits, blankets, mosquito nets, sleeping bags, generators, water purifiers, and purification tablets.

“Operation Sadbhav is part of India’s broader effort to contribute to HADR within the ASEAN region, in line with its longstanding ‘Act East Policy’,” a press release by the ministry stated.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his sympathies and solidarity to Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh immediately following the typhoon’s impact.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also conveyed his condolences to Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H.E. Bui Thanh Son.

The typhoon, which made landfall on September 7, has resulted in at least 292 confirmed deaths and left 38 people missing, according to Vietnam’s disaster agency.

Meanwhile, a BBC report stated that Myanmar’s ruling junta spokesperson, Zaw Min Tun, confirmed 113 deaths and 64 missing, although regional reports suggest the true toll may be higher.