India’s government has initiated a comprehensive program titled ‘Operation Ganga’ to assist Indian citizens currently stranded in Ukraine due to the escalating tensions and outbreak of war following a series of attacks by Russia. A dedicated Twitter handle, ‘OpGanga Helpline’, has also been launched to help with the evacuation.
Understanding Operation Ganga
Operation Ganga is an effort to evacuate all Indian nationals caught in the conflict-ridden Ukraine. With roughly 20,000 Indians, including students, stuck amidst the tensions, this operation is crucially important. The initiative has already seen success, with three Air India flights already returning over 900 Indians from Ukraine to India. Evacuation flights are operating from neighboring countries like Romania and Hungary, and the government is also assisting with evacuations from border crossings with Romania, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia.
India’s History with Evacuation Operations
India has a history of conducting successful evacuation operations:
– Operation Vande Bharat started in 2020 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. It aimed to repatriate Indian citizens stranded abroad, successfully bringing back around 60 lakh Indians as of 30th April, 2021.
– Operation Samudra Setu was a naval operation that took place in 2020 amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. This operation saw the safe return of 3,992 Indian citizens via sea, involving a 55-day mission by Indian Naval ships which traveled over 23,000 km.
– In 2016, after Belgium was targeted by terrorist attacks at Brussels Airport and Maalbeek Metro station, 242 Indians, including 28 crew members, were safely evacuated and returned to India.
– Operation Raahat in 2015 was initiated due to a conflict between the Yemeni government and Houthi rebels. Amid a no-fly zone announced by Saudi Arabia, India successfully evacuated nearly 5,600 people.
– Following the 2015 Nepal earthquake, Operation Maitri was launched as a joint relief and rescue operation by the Indian government and Armed forces, bringing back over 5,000 Indians from Nepal, as well as evacuating 170 foreign nationals from the US, UK, Russia, and Germany.
– The conflict in Libya in 2011 saw ‘Operation Homecoming’ successfully evacuate 15,400 Indian nationals.
– When military conflict erupted between Israel and Lebanon in 2006, India executed Operation Sukoon, also known as the ‘Beirut Sealift’. Approximately 2,280 people, including some Nepalese and Sri Lankan nationals, were evacuated during this operation.
– In 1990, Operation Airlift saw the successful repatriation of over 1,70,000 Indians stranded in Kuwait when Iraqi soldiers invaded.
India’s Position in the Ukraine-Russia Conflict
The Ukraine-Russia conflict has implications for India, which has interests in both countries. India has not only launched the aforementioned Operation Ganga to ensure the safe return of its citizens but is also managing its strategic ties with Russia. The situation calls for diplomatic skill to maintain national interests without escalating tensions in the region.
The Geographical Context of the Crisis
Understanding the geographical context of the crisis is vital. Ukraine is bordered by Belarus to the north, Russia to the north-east and east, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary to the west, and Romania and Moldova to the southwest. As a neighboring country to many nations, the increased instability and conflict in Ukraine has significant implications not just for India, but also for these bordering countries and beyond, thus making international cooperation crucial in resolving this crisis.
