India’s army delivers tangible humanitarian aid to nations in need
SIMILAR to the humanitarian activities conducted by the local Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the Indian Army’s services extend beyond serving and protecting with military might to delivering humanitarian assistance when called upon by nations in need.
The Guyana Chronicle was part of a 28-member delegation of international defence journalists from 25 countries that visited an Indian Army formation specialising in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
The visit provided first-hand exposure to the Indian Army’s rapid-response capabilities and highlighted the formation’s high level of operational readiness, specialised training, and firm commitment to functioning as a first responder during natural disasters in India and across the world.
Journalists received a detailed briefing on aspects pertaining to HADR operations. Officers also explained the planning framework, preparatory protocols and execution mechanisms that enable swift deployment.
Lieutenant Colonel Jagneet Gill, in a video message on the army’s humanitarian initiatives, said: “…we work as an integrated taskforce and are mobilised to help host countries to provide assistance, whatever is required by them, in the form of medical assistance, search and rescue operations and to provide engineer efforts and whatever are required to maintain stability and ensure the country which has suffered disaster, can come out of it.”
The delegation of journalists was informed about rapid mobilisation timelines, structured coordination with civil administration and host governments, and the operational integration of the formation’s dedicated HADR Task Force to provide immediate medical and logistical support in disaster-affected areas.
The briefing emphasised India’s focus on prompt, coordinated and humane response measures aimed at minimising human suffering during crises.
A major highlight of the visit was a comprehensive display of specialised HADR equipment. Journalists were shown advanced rescue tools, watercraft and flood-relief equipment, portable bridging systems and specialised medical kits designed for mass-casualty management in austere field conditions.
The interaction reinforced the Indian Army’s role not only as a combat-ready force, but also as a dependable partner in regional stability, humanitarian assistance and international goodwill.
Two of the most recent demonstrations of support in this area were the operations in Sri Lanka and Myanmar in 2025, when disaster had struck.
Guyana has also been no stranger to such humanitarian efforts, as the country’s Defence Force has actively participated in numerous disaster-response initiatives domestically and regionally.
The GDF had deployed teams to St. Vincent and the Grenadines after Hurricane Beryl in March 2025 for damage assessments and rebuilding support on Union Island. And, more recently, in December 2025, 41 GDF engineers, including Army personnel, assisted Jamaica’s post-Hurricane Melissa recovery by reconstructing over 60 roofs in affected areas like Westmoreland.
