Operation Ganga

In recent years, India has undertaken various evacuation operations to assist its citizens and others in crisis situations abroad. These operations, including Operation Ganga during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, have aimed to bring back stranded Indians from countries like Ukraine, Sudan, and Afghanistan. Additionally, the Indian government has established the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) to provide assistance to overseas Indians facing distress or emergencies. The ICWF assists with various needs such as boarding, lodging, medical care, and air passage for stranded individuals.

But, with over 11 million Indians residing overseas and more than 20 million travelling abroad annually, the government must move beyond ad hoc efforts and quick fixes. To address these challenges effectively, the Indian government must institutionalise best practices, strengthen diplomatic and military capabilities, and enhance coordination efforts.

• During the First Gulf War from August 2, 1990, to February 27, 1991, India conducted its largest-ever civilian airlift, evacuating over 150,000 Indians from Kuwait, marking a historic feat in civilian evacuation efforts.
• India has executed over thirty evacuation operations across Africa, Asia, and Europe.
• India has significant experience in conducting evacuation operations, but with the growing economic and political influence of its citizens abroad and the increasing complexity of such operations, the need for successful evacuations is now more critical than ever.

India, despite lacking a formal rescue and evacuation policy, has conducted more than two dozen evacuation operations worldwide in the past twenty years. From Operation Ajay to Sankat Mochan to Raahat, India has conducted numerous rescue missions. These operations have extended beyond bringing back its citizens from war-torn regions like Ukraine, Sudan, and Afghanistan to providing assistance to Nepal during the devastating earthquake in 2015.

Coordination Efforts: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has played a central role in these operations, often collaborating with other ministries such as Civil Aviation, Defence, and Finance for logistical, military, and financial support respectively.

Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO): NEOs involve evacuating Indian citizens, and sometimes citizens of friendly nations, from areas prone to instability, danger, and conflict.

Kuwait Airlift (1990):

• When 100,000 Iraqi soldiers invaded Kuwait, leaving royals and VIPs fleeing to Saudi Arabia, over 170,000 Indians were stranded.
• India initiated the evacuation, airlifting and repatriating over 170,000 Indians from Kuwait.

Operation Sukoon (2006):

• Amid Israel-Lebanon conflict in July 2006, India launched Operation Sukoon, famously known as the 'Beirut Sealift.'
• Largest naval rescue mission since 'Dunkirk,' evacuating about 2,280 people, including some Nepalese and Sri Lankan nationals.

Operation Safe Homecoming (2011):

• To rescue Indians stranded in conflict-torn Libya, India conducted Operation Safe Homecoming.
• Evacuated 15,400 Indian nationals via air-sea operation led by Indian Navy and Air India.

Operation Maitri (2015):

• Joint relief and rescue operation by Indian government and armed forces after 2015 Nepal earthquake.
• Brought over 5,000 Indians back from Nepal and successfully evacuated 170 foreign nationals.

Operation Raahat (2015):

• During conflict in Yemen, India evacuated nearly 5,600 people under Operation Raahat, overcoming challenges posed by a no-fly zone.

Operation Sankat Mochan (2016):

• Indian Air Force conducted Operation Sankat Mochan during South Sudanese Civil War, evacuating Indian citizens and foreign nationals.

Brussels Evacuation (2016):

• In response to terrorist strikes in Belgium, 242 Indians were repatriated via Jet Airways flight.

Operation Insaniyat (2017):

• India assisted Bangladesh in addressing Rohingya refugee crisis through Operation Insaniyat, providing essential aid.

Operation Nistar (2018):

• Indian Naval operation to evacuate 38 nationals from cyclone-ravaged Socotra Island.

Operation Samudra Setu (2020):

• Naval operation to repatriate Indian citizens during COVID-19 pandemic, bringing back 3,992 individuals via sea.

Operation Devi Shakti (2021):

• Conducted after Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, evacuating 565 individuals, including 438 Indians.

Vande Bharat Mission (2020):

• Repatriation mission during COVID-19 pandemic, bringing back Indian nationals from abroad.

Operation Ganga (2022):

• Operation Ganga was conducted by the Indian government to rescue its citizens stranded in neighbouring countries during the 2022 Russia-Ukraine war.
• Approximately 20,000 Indian nationals, predominantly students, were in Ukraine during the conflict.
• Citizens were transported from Romania, Hungary, Poland, Moldova, and Slovakia to India with assistance from these countries.
• Over 16,000 Indians were flown back to India in 76 flights as part of the evacuation efforts.
• Four union ministers, including Hardeep Singh Puri, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Kiren Rijiju, and V.K. Singh, supervised the evacuation operation.
• India extended humanitarian aid to Ukraine, including essential supplies and medicines, as a gesture of solidarity.

Operation Kaveri (2023):

• Brought back around 3,900 stranded Indians from Sudan amid conflict.

Operation Ajay (2023):

• Evacuation mission during Israel-Palestine conflict, facilitating the return of Indian citizens from Israel.

Establishment:

• In 2009, the Government of India established the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) in all Indian Missions/Consulates abroad.
• The fund aims to address contingency expenses for welfare activities assisting distressed overseas Indian citizens, prioritising those in the most deserving cases on a means-tested basis.

Objectives:

• Provide boarding and lodging for distressed overseas Indian workers, particularly in household/domestic sectors and unskilled labourers.
• Offer emergency medical care and initial legal aid to overseas Indians in need.
• Arrange air passage for stranded overseas Indians.
• Cover expenses for airlifting mortal remains to India or facilitating local cremation/burial if the sponsor is unable or unwilling to do so.

Funding:

• ICWF is funded by additional charges on consular services collected by Indian Missions.

Utilisation:

• Till October 2021, approximately Rs. 44 crores have been spent from the ICWF for boarding and lodging, air passage, emergency medical care, and evacuation purposes.
• Since 2014, over Rs. 447.2 crores have been utilised to assist over 2.61 lakh Indians abroad.
• As of September 2021, the ICWF has an available amount of approximately Rs. 474 crores.

Evacuation Operations Complexity:

• Evacuation operations have become increasingly complex due to rising international migration.
• Several states, including Australia, Brazil, France, the UK, and the US, have developed extensive expertise and capabilities, along with standard operating procedures for such contingencies.

Military Involvement:

• Noncombatant evacuation operations (NEOs) are institutionalised with detailed doctrines in countries like the US and France.
• NATO adopted a joint NEO doctrine in 2013 for its member states.

Notable Operations:

• The US has conducted numerous operations, including Operation Frequent Wind and Operation Assured Response.
• France has developed its NEO doctrine and conducted operations mainly in Central and sub-Saharan Africa.

EU Efforts:

• The EU aims to integrate member state efforts through its Common Security and Defense Policy, although individual policies and capabilities remain dominant.

Evacuation by Non-Western Countries:

• Less-developed countries like Brazil and China have begun developing their own evacuation capabilities.
• Brazil has ordered evacuations from conflict zones, while China conducted a large-scale operation in Libya involving military transport aircraft and navy deployment.

Japan's Involvement:

• Japan's Legislation for Peace and Security allows its Self-Defense Forces to use military force for evacuating Japanese nationals abroad.

Russia's Response:

• Russia's Ministry for Civil Defense oversees evacuation operations, notably invoking the right to protect citizens during the Crimea crisis.

Other Emergency Plans:

• Many countries, like the Philippines, have developed detailed standard operation procedures and emergency plans to protect their diaspora, coordinating military, diplomatic, and political resources.

• Lack of formal doctrine or emergency plan has led to reliance on individual sacrifices from diplomatic, airline, and armed forces personnel.
• With over 11 million Indians residing abroad and 20 million travelling annually, ad hoc efforts are no longer sustainable.

• Institutionalise best practices: Employ significant diplomatic and military resources to assess.
• Develop standard operating procedures and emergency doctrines.
• Enhance diplomatic cadre's readiness for hostile environments and improve coordination with other governments.
• Strengthen armed forces' capacity for planning and deployment alongside civilian authorities.
• Establish a permanent coordinating mechanism for communication and joint operations across various levels.
• Allocate a civilian air reserve fleet for evacuation to ease burden on Air India.
• Explore new communication technologies for real-time updates on evacuation procedures.
• Expand efforts to manage public pressure through diplomacy and communication strategies prioritizing Indian citizens.

The global landscape of evacuation operations highlights the intricate challenges nations face in safeguarding their citizens abroad. The complexity of these operations, magnified by the increasing number of international migrants, requires that we use a comprehensive approach to preparedness and response. India, with its vast diaspora and frequent overseas travel, must prioritise the development of robust evacuation capabilities.

While India has demonstrated commendable efforts in past evacuation operations, the lack of formal doctrines and standard operating procedures poses significant challenges. To address this, India should focus on institutionalising best practices, bolstering diplomatic and military capacities, and improving coordination among relevant stakeholders. Additionally, investing in advanced communication technologies and establishing a permanent coordinating mechanism would enhance response efficiency.

By learning from the experiences of other nations and leveraging its own strengths, India can strengthen its ability to protect its citizens during times of crisis. It is imperative for India to proactively address the evolving complexities of evacuation operations to ensure the safety and well-being of its diaspora worldwide.