Seychelles, June 08: Following the assistance provided to the Maldives as part of Mission Sagar operation, INS Kesari reached Port Victoria, Seychelles to aid the nation with COVID-19 related essential medicines for the people of Seychelles. The assistance to Seychelles is a part of India's outreach to aid the five island nations in the Indian Ocean to combat the outbreak.

 

 

"An official ceremony for handing over the medicines from the Government of India to Government of Seychelles was held on 07 June 2020. Secretary of state for Foreign Affairs, H.E Ambassador Barry Faure and Secretary of State for Health, H.E Ambassador Marie Pierre Lloyd, represented the Government of Seychelles at the ceremony," the statement read.

 

 

"The Indian side was represented by the High Commissioner of India to Seychelles, H.E General Dalbir Singh Suhag PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd) and the Second Secretary to HCI, Mr Ashwin Bhaskaran," it further added.

 

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, INS Kesari is on a trip to five nations in the South Indian ocean including Seychelles and Mauritius for delivering food essentials, HCQ tablets, and other Ayurvedic medical assistance, etc. This deployment named ‘Mission Sagar’, is in line with India’s role as the first responder in the region and builds on the excellent relations existing between these countries to battle the COVID-19 pandemic and its resultant difficulties.

 

 

It is in consonance with the Prime Ministers' vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region ‘SAGAR’ initiated on March 15. It highlights the importance accorded by India to relations with her neighboring countries and further strengthens the existing bond. The operation is being progressed in close coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, and other agencies of the Government of India.

 

Earlier, last month, INS Kesari carried 580 tons of essential food items has reached the first destination Male port in the Maldives. The food aid includes 200 tons of rice, 140 tons of wheat flour, and 80 tons of sugar.

 

As earlier reported, the medical assistance teams would be deployed in Mauritius and Comoros, helping their governments deal with COVID-19 emergency and dengue fever (in case of Comoros), the Ministry of External Affairs said.

 

After the Maldives, the ship will also deliver consignments of COVID-19 related essential medicines to Mauritius, Madagascar, and Comoros. Besides, a special consignment of Ayurvedic medicines is also being sent to Mauritius.

The consignments meant for Madagascar and Comoros also includes Hydroxychloroquine tablets, which have already been sent earlier to Mauritius, Maldives, and Seychelles.