India to send food and medical assistance to drought-hit Madagascar

NEW DELHI:

The Government of India on Monday announced that it will send a consignment of 1000 metric tonnes of rice and 100,000 tablets of Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) humanitarian assistance to drought-hit Madagascar.

The Madagascar government had earlier made an urgent appeal for international solidarity and assistance to deal with the humanitarian crisis due to severe drought in the island country.

The appeal was made by the Foreign Minister of Madagascar, Tehindrazanarivelo Djacoba A.S Oliva, during a telephonic conversation with India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

"Good conversation with FM of Madagascar @Tehindrazanari1. Informed him that Indian humanitarian assistance would be delivered in the coming days. Will include food and medical supplies," Jaishankar tweeted after the call.

The ship will leave with food and medical assistance on March 3 and is expected to reach the Port of Ehoala in Madagascar between March 21 and 24.

According to a November 2020 report by the World Food Programme, Southern Madagascar has been impacted by a devastating famine.

(Edited by Ladiangti Rani)

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