What is Mission SAGAR?

• IAS NEXT, Lucknow
• 28, Dec 2021

Context 

As part of deployment undertaken by the Indian Navy since May 2020 under Mission SAGAR, Indian Naval Ship Kesari entered the Port of Maputo, Mozambique recently.

Key takeaways 

• 500 Tons of food aid has been shipped by INS Kesari to support Mozambique to cope with ongoing drought and concurrent challenges of pandemic.
• INS Kesari is carrying two Fast Interceptor Craft and self defence equipment to be handed over to the Armed Forces of Mozambique.

About mission SAGAR:

• Mission Sagar was a COVID-19 relief mission launched by India in May 2020 as a part of its efforts to provide essential aid to the Indian Ocean countries. 
• This was followed up by Mission Sagar II in November and Mission Sagar III in December 2020.
• Mission SAGAR 1– India sent INS Kesari in May 2020 with food items, medicines and medical assistance teams to Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar, Comoros and La Reunion.
• Mission SAGAR 2– In November 2020, INS Airavat was delivering food to Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti and Eritrea.
• Mission SAGAR 3– In December 2020, INS Kiltan made its way towards Cambodia and Vietnam carrying 15 tons of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) for disaster relief following catastrophic floods in Vietnam and Cambodia.
• Mission SAGAR 4– In March 2021, INS Jalashwa reached Port Anjouan, Comoros to deliver 1000 metric tonnes of rice to the island nation. 

Do you know?

• INS Kesari, a Landing Ship Tank (Large) had undertaken a similar mission in May – June 2020 to provide humanitarian and medical assistance to Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros, including deployment of Medical Assistance Teams of the Indian Navy in multiple locations.
• Since May 2020, the Indian Navy has deployed ships to 15 Friendly Foreign Countries under SAGAR missions.