‘Service is excellent’: Earthquake-hit Venezuelans praise Indian team for treatment at Army Field Hospital
Caracas, July 2 (IANS) People of Venezuela have expressed appreciation for the Indian medical team at the field hospital established under ‘Operation Amistad’ for providing treatment to those affected by the devastating earthquakes.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has shared pictures and videos on the social media platform X, which show people receiving treatment at the hospital and sharing experiences about the medical assistance being provided there.
A local, sharing a story of a patient who suffered injury during the earthquake, described the medical assistance provided in the hospital as “excellent.”
When asked about the health issue faced by the patient, the local said, “We are from La Guaira state, from Playa Grande. She (patient) has a double fibula fracture and they are going to operate on her tonight.”
Asked whether the injury occurred during the earthquake, she responded, “Yes, during the earthquake. We just arrived and have received immediate care. The whole service until now has been excellent.”
While sharing the video on X, the MEA stated, “Caring for people. The Army Field Hospital remains committed to serving affected communities.”
India launched ‘Operation Amistad’ to support Venezuela following devastating twin earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 on June 24 that have claimed over 2,000 lives and caused widespread destruction across the country.
The MEA also shared pictures which showed people receiving treatment at the field hospital. While sharing the pictures on X, the MEA stated, “Healing lives. Serving humanity. The Army Field Hospital continues its humanitarian mission.”
In a video shared by the MEA on Wednesday, a patient, who received treatment at the hospital after suffering an injury in the arm, said, “The arm doesn’t hurt now…They (doctors) did a good job. I don’t have any problem now. Thank God that they did this operation. I had this problem for five days.”
When asked whether he is receiving good care at the hospital, he responded, “Yes.”
The humanitarian assistance sent by India reached Venezuela on June 28. While announcing the development, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar expressed confidence that the Field Hospital Unit, relief supplies, medicines and medical equipment will bolster ongoing post-earthquake relief efforts in the country.
“Indian assistance reaches Venezuela. Confident that the Field Hospital Unit, relief supplies, medicines and medical equipment will bolster ongoing post-earthquake relief efforts in the country,” EAM Jaishankar had posted on X.
India has deployed a specialised Indian Army medical contingent to earthquake-hit Venezuela.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez has said that the death toll from the two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 has risen to 2,295, while the number of injured has climbed to 11,267.
“As of today, there are 2,295 fatalities and 11,267 injuries. We are currently counting 12,841 affected people,” Rodriguez said during a daily update on the country’s situation on Wednesday (local time) following the earthquakes that struck Venezuela last week.
He said 6,461 people had been rescued by over 4,000 international and domestic rescue workers and volunteers, Xinhua News Agency.
Rodriguez, who also heads the command centre for the creation of temporary camps, urged health workers, security personnel and firefighters to register on the Patria platform to address housing problems caused by the earthquakes.
–IANS
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