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The 2015 earthquake in Nepal, one of the deadliest in its history, has generated a wave of foreign contributions in the form of monetary contributions, in-kind aid and search and rescue operations.India was one of the fastest to respond, which introduced Operation Maitri through deploying the Indian army, air force and other specialized teams.[2] Claiming that it was the largest crisis relief operation ever carried out, India’s reaction received praise from many sectors, and a senior UN official recognized the country’s role as a “first responder”.[3] The relief operation also coincided with modi’s emphasis on regional cooperation, adding claims to play the role of “first responder” in the occasion of a regional crisis.[4]
Nepal’s then ambassador to India declared India’s timely efforts and called the reaction “unique” within its scope [5].However, as aid efforts continued, there were also accusations that the Indian contingent would obstruct additional foreign aid efforts, coordination between Indian and Nepalese agencies, and insensitive reports through indian media.[6] As a result, India’s largely successful operation raised doubts about its organizational and technical preparation for crisis relief and control in the region.In addition, the strong foreign reaction to the crisis included bilateral assistance from six other South Asian countries, but without coordinated relief efforts, in addition to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (ASACR).India’s leadership role has therefore revealed the absence of effective regional crisis relief mechanisms in South Asia [7].
The case of Nepal reflects 4 trends in India’s technique for humanitarian assistance and crisis relief (HADR). First, the centrality of your immediate neighborhood. Geographically, India’s ancient hadR footprint can be largely attributed to its subcontinent and, more limited, to the Indian Ocean region. By one estimate, more than two-thirds of India’s humanitarian aid has gone to South Asia. [8] India has carried out similar relief operations to help its neighbors in the recent past, adding after the 2004 tsunami, the 2005 India-Pakistan earthquake, the Nargis and Mora cyclones in 2008 and 2017 respectively, the Maldives of 2014 and the Rohingya refugee crisis in 2018..
Second, South Asia is especially vulnerable to herbal calamities.[9] Since 1970, the number of errors in the region has quintuple, with direct losses estimated at US$80 billion.[10] The region is also the highest flood-prone in the world, the peak time exposed to cyclones, and suffers the maximum of its earthquake deaths.[11]
Third, under the label of “first aid”, India has stated its goal of being a leading actor in emergencies in its neighborhood. Commenting definitively on the joy gained so far in 2019, Interior Minister Amit Shah noted that “in the Indian Subcontinent, we have played the role of first responders to a crisis Array … crisis management and resilience initiatives to the crisis. [12] These tests and ambitious statements, as well as India’s advanced economic and military capabilities, have raised the expectations of neighbors in times of crisis.
Finally, in addition to the Nepal earthquake, a number of new types of emergencies, non-classical crises that are accompanied by pandemics, chemical and biological accidents, trade attacks and terrorists are also taking place in the region.Geographical and technical barriers to the classical conception of humanitarian crises The COVID-19 pandemic focused on the transformative nature and expanding complexity of these emergencies At a time of greater uncertainty, India will have to adapt its technique to the classic crisis response..
To achieve its leadership ambition, meet new expectations, and address an increasingly complex and common diversity of emergencies in the neighborhood, India will need to adapt on two fronts.Internally, India wants to focus on greater coordination between the multiple government agencies that administer aid.foreign operations, state governments offering cross-border assistance, the media and civil society.Outside India it wants bilateral and multilateral cooperation with its neighbours and to take advantage of regional crisis control institutions.
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[2] S Jaishankar, Press Conference on India’s Rescue and Rescue Efforts in Nepal, (New Delhi: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 26 April 2015), https://www.mea.gov.in/media-briefings.htm?dtl / 25132 / press conference on the rescue and efforts of Indians in Nepal April 26, 2015
[3] “Earthquake in Nepal: UN praises India’s aid operations in the country”, The Economic Times, 27 May 2015, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/nepal-earthquake-un -aid-operations-in-the-country-of-loue-Indians / articleshow /47439670.cms
[4] “IISS Fullerton Lecture through S.Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary in Singapore” (speech, Singapore, 20 July 2015), https://www.mea.gov.in/Speeches-Statements.htm?dtl/25493/ fullerton iiss conference through Dr s jaishankar’s foreign secretary in Singapore; Statement through the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the movement to draw attention to “in Nepal and the state of relations between Indo-Nepal” in Rajya Sabha, (New Delhi: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 3 December 2015), https://www.meaArraygov.in/Speeches-Statements.htm?dtl / 26104 / statement through the external business minister draws attention to the movement in Nepal and the state of Indonesian appointments in rajya sabha 03 December 2015
[5] Mayank Bhardwaj and Ratnajyoti Dutta, “China?India? We are grateful for your help: Nepal’s ambassador to India,” Reuters, 28 April 2015, http://blogs.reuters.com/india/2015/04/ 28/Chinese-Indian-were-grateful-for-your-help-nepal-ambassador-in-India/
[6] Soutik Biswas, “Why do Indian media face a backlash in Nepal?”, Reuters, May 4, 2015, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-32579561; “India and Nepal oppose IAF departures while Kathmandu Airport is overwhelmed,” Hindustan Times, 29 April 2015, https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/ Indian-Nepal-spar-over-iaf – exits- as-kathmandu- airport-clostrue/history-iI5C818CQNq9h9JT3P0GZL.html; Shreya Upadhyaya, “Disaster Response and Humanitarian Assistance of India in South Asia”, Indian Foreign Affairs Journal, vol.13, Oct. 2018, p.321, http://www.associationdiplomats.org/Publications/ifaj/Vol 13/13.4/IFAJ-13.4-ARTICLE 1-F.pdf
[7] “The Response to the Nepal Earthquake Crisis: Lessons Learned,” European Institute for Asian Studies, May 2016, p.27, https://www.eias.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/The -Crisis-Response-to-the-Nepal-Earthquake -_- Lessons-Learned-color-1.pdf
[8] “India as a humanitarian donor in the 21st century: the seeds of one more role” (Berlin; GPPI, 3-5 April 2013), p.6, https://www.gppi.net/media/ Horvath_2013_BASAS_india.pdf
[9] “The Disaster Risk Landscape in South and South-West Asia: Points for Stakeholders”, UNESCAP 2019 pp.5 – https://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/IDD-APDR-Subreport-SSWA.pdf
[10] “Disaster Risk Management in South Asia”, (Washington DC: World Bank: GFDRR, 2012), p.3, http://documents1.worldbank.org/cured/en/648281468170977802/pdf/763020WP0P11400Box0379791B00PUBLIC0.pdf
[11] “Disaster Risk Management in South Asia”, p.3, 6, op-cit.
[12] “India’s first reaction to the crisis in the subcontinent, leading crisis management projects: “Amit Shah”, Business Standard, 8 November 2019, https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/inde -first-interventor-in-case-of-crisis-in-the-subcontinent-projects-of-the-foreground-in-crisis-amit-shah-1191080620-1.html
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