India's Disaster Diplomacy

IN NEWS:

• India has launched "Operation Dost" to extend assistance to earthquake-ravaged Turkey and Syria, which were hit by an intense 7.9-magnitude earthquake.

MORE ON NEWS:

• Under Operation Dost, India has sent search and rescue teams, mainly three teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), a field hospital, materials, medicines, and equipment to Turkey and Syria.
• Seven four-wheeled vehicles and trucks, apart from four canines, were sent along with the three teams that were airlifted by an Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17 heavy lift aircraft from the Hindon air base in Ghaziabad to the Adana airport in Turkey.
• According to the Union Health Ministry, India has sent emergency relief material comprising life-saving medicines, protective items and critical care equipment valued at over  7 crore rupees to quake-hit Turkey and Syria.

INDIA'S RESPONSES TO PREVIOUS DISASTERS:

• The United States of America:
  • An Indian Air Force IL-76 aircraft delivered 25 tonnes of relief supplies for Hurricane Katrina victims at the Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, on September 13, 2005.
• Maldives:
  • After the 2004 Tsunami, the Indian government announced a composite package worth five crore rupees. Under "Operation Castor", 50 sorties were undertaken, and four aircraft and two naval ships were engaged in relief operations. Repairing and restoring generators and communication, providing drinking water, and setting up medical camps on ships were also done.
• Sri Lanka:
  • India sent its forces to carry out rescue operations, called "Operation Rainbow," in Sri Lanka hours after the tsunami struck the country on December 26, 2004. Not only this, India provided medical assistance to thousands of victims by setting up medical camps in coordination with the local civil and military health authorities.
• Myanmar:
  • When cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar in 2008, killing at least 20,000 people, India was among the first countries to send aid to the country. It provided 125.5 metric tonnes of relief material, including medicines, clothing, utensils, water tanks, tents, and tarpaulin.
• Japan:
  • The 2011 Tsunami wreaked havoc in Japan. Apart from providing relief materials, India also sent 46 members of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to search and rescue in the town of Onagawa. It was their first overseas operation. The team included a doctor, three officers, six inspectors, two paramedics and constables and carried 9,000 kg of equipment and food.
• Nepal:
  • In the aftermath of the 2015 Nepal earthquakes, the NDRF deployed 16 of its urban search and rescue (USAR) teams, which comprised more than 700 rescuers in the country. They rescued 11 injured people and retrieved 133 dead bodies from the rubble. The teams also organised six medical camps and attended to 1,219 people. Indian authorities sent more than 1,176 tonnes of relief materials to Nepal.

WHY ARE INDIA'S DISASTER RELIEF OPERATIONS SIGNIFICANT?

• Improve strained bilateral ties:
  • For instance, India’s assistance to Turkey comes at a time when ties are still tense, particularly over Turkish statements on Kashmir.
  • Even so, the fact that the government put aside political considerations and sent aid, just as Turkey did in sending relief to India during COVID, does help improve the strained bilateral relationship.
  • With Syria, India has solidified its traditional position of support for Damascus.
• Boost neighborhood first policy:
  • India's humanitarian assistance and disaster relief have largely been directed towards its neighbors, including after the 2004 tsunami and the 2015 Nepal earthquake.
  • It is in line with India’s foreign policy of ‘neighborhood first’.
  • Also, under the label of “first responder,” India has been signalling its intent to be a leading actor during emergencies in its neighbourhood.
  • For instance, India launched Operation Maitri after the 2015 Nepal earthquake by deploying the Indian Army, the Air Force, and other specialised teams. Claiming it to be its largest-ever disaster relief operation, India’s response garnered praise from many quarters, with a top UN official acknowledging the country’s role as a "first responder."
• Global responder image:
  • In the year of India’s G20 presidency, India’s assistance to Turkey and Syria burnishes its image as a global responder and leader of the developing world.
  • For instance, the Indian naval operations that coordinate 5 simultaneous missions caught global attention during the 2004 Tsunami, and was a key reason for the Quad to be formed.
• Age-old tradition of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam:
  • India is providing assistance to countries in the spirit of its age-old tradition of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam".
  • Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations also manifest India’s theme for the G20 presidency: One Earth, One Family, One Future.
• Role as a regional power and net security provider:
  • India exhibited its role as a regional power and net security provider in the Indo-Pacific using its HADR capacities.
  • For instance, the ‘Samanvay 2022’ exercise under SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) with regional stakeholders for HADR was held in Agra. This exercise formulated a joint approach in the region to deal with future disasters.
  • Also, India’s outreach was exhibited when its ships delivered prompt assistance as part of Operation Sahayta in 2018 in Madagascar and Mozambique.
• Revive regional cooperation:
  • HADR, being a relatively non-controversial point of agenda, can act as a tool for strengthening India’s ties with its neighbours along with reviving regional cooperation, whether through SAARC, BIMSTEC, or other forums.
• Military capability on display:
  • Including transporters (for example, Indian Air Force C130J-Hercules, C-17) , field hospitals, and technical teams etc.

CHALLENGES AND SHORTCOMINGS:

• Does not support Indian non-governmental organisations:
  • Despite a strong domestic civil society, India does not support Indian non-governmental organisations in international humanitarian responses.
  • The majority of its support is directed through government-to-government channels, although opportunities for locally based NGOs to access support through Indian embassies on the ground can sometimes arise. 
• Strained bilateral relations:
  • For instance, in 2022, despite its proximity and the scale of the Pakistan flood devastation, Islamabad did not request and New Delhi did not send any aid.
• Extremist groups and rebels:
  • Extremist groups and rebels may take advantage of the disaster and take control of the region, which may hamper humanitarian and disaster relief operations.
  • For instance, parts of Syria country are under rebel control- and even some under ISIS - which could turn violent or take advantage of the disaster.

WAY FORWARD:

• Regional mechanisms or partnerships:
  • Moving beyond a predominantly bilateral approach, and coordinate more through regional mechanisms or partnerships with multilateral bodies and friendly global partners.
• Better coordination:
  • Better coordination between India's multiple departments, state governments, the media, and civil society will ensure streamlining of operations.
• Engage with international initiatives:
  • India should back its intentions of playing a larger role in the global humanitarian system by furthering its involvement with multilateral organisations.
  • A straightforward channel to do so is increasing cash and in-kind donations to UN-affiliated agencies such as CERF, WFP, and UNOCHA. This will not only help with greater agenda-setting powers in the region but also improve India’s global reputation.
• Establish standard operating procedures and institutionalise coordination:
  • The past operations by India show the need for clear guidelines and SOPs to reduce coordination challenges between the MEA and various other agencies.
  • An integrated response based on mechanisms for military coordination and a clear chain of command will help streamline the external HADR process.

CONCLUSION:

• Today, the world is caught up in a large number of disasters. This makes HADR a potent aspect of international collaboration, foreign policy, and diplomatic engagement. It is important that India continues to develop these capabilities and expand them so that when a disaster strikes, Indian assistance may be among the earliest and effective contributors. 

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Q. "Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) is a potent aspect of international collaboration, foreign policy, and diplomatic engagement." Discuss the statement with reference to India's humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.