NEW DELHI: India’s navy dispatched hundreds of tonnes of food aid to the earthquake-hit nation of Myanmar on Saturday, following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the junta leader Min Aung Hlaing. This timely support reflects India’s role as one of the first responders to the disaster caused by the recent 7.7-magnitude earthquake on March 28, which has claimed over 3,300 lives, according to reports from Myanmar state media.
More than a week post-disaster, many survivors are left desperate, struggling to find sufficient food and shelter. The latest aid in question consists of 442 tonnes of food supplies, including rice, cooking oil, noodles, and biscuits, which the Indian embassy in Yangon confirmed. This vital shipment arrived at Thilawa port aboard the Indian navy vessel INS Gharial.
During a rare in-person meeting on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC meeting in Bangkok, Modi discussed the situation with Min Aung Hlaing. The Indian Prime Minister is quoted as stating, “India is doing whatever is possible to assist our sisters and brothers of Myanmar in this critical time.” Following their meeting, India’s foreign ministry reported that Modi reiterated to the junta chief that “there was no military solution” to ongoing conflicts in Myanmar. He also emphasized the need for an early restoration of democratic processes through inclusive and credible elections.
The power dynamics in Myanmar have shifted since a 2021 coup that brought Min Aung Hlaing’s military overlordship to power, overthrowing the government led by Aung San Suu Kyi and igniting a protracted and complex conflict.
Uncharacteristically, following the quake, the junta leader issued an appeal for humanitarian aid, a significant step indicating the urgency of the situation given that prior regimes in Myanmar have often rebuffed foreign assistance during crises. Additionally, Sri Lanka has contributed to the relief efforts by sending a medical team along with supplies funded largely by donations from Buddhist temples, pledging over $1 million to assist the affected communities in this predominantly Buddhist nation.
