Sihanoukville: Another glorious chapter was written today in the age-old civilizational and friendly relations between India and Cambodia when Indian Naval Ship “INS Kiltan” delivered 15 tons of flood relief material containing 3,000 flood relief kits for the flood-affected people in Cambodia. The ship arrived at Sihanoukville Port on 29th December 2020 as is part of the Indian Navy’s Mission SAGAR-III.
On this friendly and goodwill mission, INS Kiltan was welcomed at Sihanoukville Port by diplomats from the Indian Embassy who were joined by the Royal Cambodian Navy by Commodore IN Sokhemara, Deputy Chief of Staff, Ream Naval Base and 15 other officers of the Cambodian Royal Navy. Officials from Sihanoukville Port Immigration and Sihanoukville Port were also present to welcome the ship.
On behalf of the Royal Cambodian Navy, Commodore Sokhemera warmly welcomed the visit of INS Kiltan and recalled its previous visit to Cambodia along with INS Sahyadri in September 2019, and thanked the Government of India for this humanitarian gesture of providing relief to the people of Cambodia. He added that such goodwill visits during such difficult times will not only strengthen bilateral relations and people-to-people ties between India and Cambodia but will also lead to enhanced defence cooperation between the two countries. Commander Ponnappa, who commands the Ship, thanked the Royal Cambodian Navy for their warm welcome.
On 30th December 2020, in a ceremony held at the Sihanoukville Port, on behalf of the Government of India, Mr. B. Subba Rao, Second Secretary (Pol & Com), representing Ambassador of India to Cambodia, Dr. Devyani Khobragade, handed over 15 tonnes flood relief material to H.E. Mr. Hang Samoeun, Permanent Vice President of the National Committee for Disaster Management and Advisor to Samdech Techo HUN SEN, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
In his remarks delivered on behalf of the Ambassador of India, Mr. B. Subba Rao recalled India’s unwavering support to Cambodia not only in good times but also during the difficult period of its history. He also stated that the assistance in the form of flood relief material is an indication of the importance India attaches to Cambodia as an extended neighbor and a reliable interlocutor, partner, and friend.
He added that in addition to flood relief material from the Government of India, the Embassy of India, Phnom Penh in collaboration with the Indian community and businesses in Cambodia donated food material and medicines to flood-affected people in Kampong Chhnang and Battambang provinces in November 2020.
He further stated that while the aid provided by the Government of India and the Indian community in Cambodia will not fully mitigate the irreparable loss caused to the flash flood victims, undertaking such measures convey a message to the people of Cambodia that Government and people of India stand in solidarity with our civilization sister country.
While accepting the flood relief material on behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia, H.E. Samoeun recalled the strong bonds of friendship between the two countries and thanked the Government of India for their kind gesture to help the flood-affected people of Cambodia.
The visit and port call of INS Kiltan to Sihanoukville port for delivering 15 tonnes of flood relief material to Cambodia under “Mission SAGAR” is part of India’s Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) assistance to Friendly Foreign Countries. Mission SAGAR-III, is being undertaken in accordance with the vision of the Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi’s vision for Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR, which in Hindi language means ‘sea’). It highlights the importance that India attaches to Cambodia and its other maritime neighbors.
Such port calls for carrying HADR material during the need of the hour are expected not only to increase maritime cooperation between the defense forces of India and Cambodia but also positively contribute towards strengthening the existing bonds of friendship between the two countries.
Source by: India in Cambodia (Embassy of India, Phnom Penh)
