PM Modi Assures Myanmar of Increased Aid After Earthquake: India Ready to Assist

PM Modi Assures Myanmar of Increased Aid After Earthquake: Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered reassurance to Myanmar's Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on Friday that India was engaged in taking all steps to aid the country through recovery efforts following devastation from a very large earthquake that killed several thousands.

This meeting was on the sidelines of the Summit meeting of the leaders of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral and Technical Cooperation (BIMSTEC) grouping, which comprises nations in the neighborhood of India along the rim of Bengal Bay.

"Met Senior General Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok. Once again expressed condolences on the loss of lives and damage to property in the wake of the recent earthquake. India is doing whatever is possible to assist our sisters and brothers of Myanmar in this critical time," Modi wrote on X.

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It was the Prime Minister's first discussion with Senior General Min, who captured power via a military coup in February 2021.

"We also discussed bilateral relations between India and Myanmar, particularly in sectors like connectivity, capacity building, infrastructure development and more," he said.

Sources said Senior General Min thanked the Prime Minister for the relief assistance.

Min expressed gratitude for Modi's reconstruction work and leadership during the Bhuj earthquake in Gujarat and said those lessons would help Myanmar and others, sources said.

India has initiated some major programs as operational steps to assist Myanmar.

Operation Brahma has been launched by India for relief work of an earthquake hit Myanmar since the military coup in February 2021 brought into power Senior General Min.

During meetings lasting time and a half an hour, His Generalship appreciated India’s speed in rendering assistance immediately after the earthquake impinging on Myanmar territory on March 28.

Military field hospitals have been deployed by India in Mandalay, close to the epicenter of the earthquake tragedy.

Mandalay has a field hospital set up by India; a high-ranking officer from Myanmar’s government visited it.

India has also deployed the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel to carry on with the relief works in Myanmar.

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Myanmar is viewed as a linchpin for the BIMSTEC undertaking and realization in its principal object of enhancement of connectivity among the member states.

All major projects for connectivity with other member states are crossing through Myanmar which has very limited control by local authorities.

The earthquake provided Myanmar with a chance to interact with the global intergovernmental community in its quest for humanitarian assistance to rebuild after the earthquake.

Over 3,000 persons are reported dead in the Myanmar earthquake, nearly 5,000 are injured, and over 370 are missing nationwide.

Senior General Min also attended an official dinner for leaders of the BIMSTEC nations that are also Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs mentioned that during ministerial meetings on Thursday, BIMSTEC members had disaster management-related discussions.

While China has quantified the aid it has despatched to Myanmar, India has maintained that it does not believe in putting a monetary value to the humanitarian aid it extends to countries in times of crisis.

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