The Indian Naval Ship Jalashwa has reached the port of Anjouan in Comoros on March 14, 2021. The ship was carrying a consignment of 1000 metric tonnes of rice. The ship will be received by the Foreign Minister of Comoros, H.E. Dhoihir Dhoulkamal during a ceremony on March 15, 2021.
Background
This consignment of 1000 metric tonnes of rice as food assistance were flagged off to Comoros in the light of promise made by the Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu during his brief visit to Comoros in the month of October 2019.
India-Madagascar Cooperation
After handing over the consignment to Comoros, the INS Jalashwa will travel to the Port of Ehoala so as to deliver another consignment of 1000 metric tonne of rice and 1,00,000 tablets of HCQ. This consignment will be delivered in accordance with the promise of External Affairs Minister of India, S Jaishankar. He made his promise after the Madagascar asked for the solidarity and assistance from the Indian side to deal with the humanitarian crisis in South of Madagascar because of severe drought. The ship will also deploy the Indian Naval Training Team in Madagascar for capacity building and training of the Malagasy Special Forces for two weeks.
INS Jalashwa
It is an amphibious transport dock which presently serves the Indian Navy. This ship was procured from the United States for US $90 million in the year 2005. The ship then was commissioned to the service in June 2007. This is the only Indian naval ship that has been procured from United States. It is based in Visakhapatnam under Eastern Naval Command.
Eastern Naval Command
It is one among the three command-level formations of Indian Navy. It is based in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. This command level is responsible for all the naval forces in Bay of Bengal, parts of Indian Ocean and naval establishments on east coast of India. This command was set up in March 1968. It is commanded by a Three Star Flag Officer of the rank of Vice Admiral. The vice admiral flag officer is titled as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command.