Context: India has launched Operation Sadbhav to provide humanitarian help and catastrophe remedy (HADR) to Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

About Operation Sadbhav

• Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam have been hit by excessive flooding caused by Typhoon Yagi. 

• The operation was launched in the wake of disasters caused by Typhoon Yagi.

• Operation Sadbhav is a part of India’s broader attempt to make a member to HADR in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) area, as per its longstanding ‘Act East Policy’.

India's Commitment

• India committed $1 million in flood relief assistance to Vietnam, including 35 tonnes of essential supplies like water purification, water containers, blankets, kitchen utensils, and solar lanterns.

• $100,000 worth of assistance was allocated to Laos including 10 tonnes of relief materials like gensets, water purification items, hygiene supplies, mosquito nets, blankets, and sleeping bags.

Deployment of Resources:

• The Indian Navy’s Eastern Naval Command mobilized relief efforts, including loading aid onto naval ships for delivery to Yangon, Myanmar.

• C-17 Globemaster aircraft, known for their large cargo capacity and long-range capabilities, are being used to airlift aid to Vietnam and Laos.

Impact of Typhoon Yagi

• Typhoon Yagi, one of the strongest tropical cyclones of 2024, caused widespread devastation across Southeast Asia.

• Originating as a tropical storm in the Philippine Sea, it intensified into a Category 5 typhoon, making landfall in China with devastating winds of 223 km/h.

• The storm led to significant loss of life, particularly in Vietnam due to landslides and floods, causing huge displacement and extensive damage across the region.

NOTE: Operation SADBHAVANA is an initiative of the Indian Army for civic actions in certain part of the country like Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Sikkim.