Sagar II: INS Airavat reaches Kenya with food aid for South Sudan

Indian Naval Ship (INS) Airavat on Friday reached Mombasa port in Kenya on Friday with food aid for the people of South Sudan amid the coronavirus pandemic. The food aid is part of India's ongoing humanitarian mission ‘Sagar-II’ aimed at providing assistance to friendly foreign countries to overcome natural calamities and Covid-19 pandemic, the Defence Ministry said in the press statement.

"The Mission Sagar-II is aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and reiterates India’s position as a dependable partner in Indian Ocean Region (IOR) with Indian Navy as the principal maritime agency and first responder in the maritime domain," the defence ministry's statement said.

"The mission also highlights the importance accorded by India to relations with South Sudan and further strengthens the existing bond," the statement noted.

The Indian Navy is progressing this mission in close coordination with the Ministries of Defence and External Affairs, and other agencies of the Indian government.