India has stepped up its humanitarian efforts by dispatching 10 tonnes of critical medical aid to Somalia.
As it is grappling with prolonged drought, internal conflict, and widespread displacement.
What Does India Medical Aid to Somalia Include?
The medical aid package, confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), includes essential medicines, surgical supplies, hospital equipment, and biomedical tools.
Somalia’s Deepening Crisis
Somalia has endured decades of instability, worsened by extreme climate events.
The drought of 2020–2023, triggered by five consecutive failed rainy seasons, affected 90% of the country, leaving over 8 million people in urgent need.
2023 Deyr rainy season brought devastating floods due to El Niño, displacing 1.2 million people.
Now, the country faces La Niña conditions, causing dry spells and increasing the risk of cholera, food insecurity, and resource-based conflicts.
Urgent Humanitarian Needs
According to the European Commission, 6 million Somalis will require life-saving aid in 2025.
Half the population lacks access to clean water, and 1.8 million children under five are at risk of severe malnutrition.
India’s medical aid aims to support overstretched healthcare systems and vulnerable communities.
The medical aid packages were marked with the Indian tricolor and labeled as a “Gift from the People and Government of India”, reinforcing India’s commitment to global humanitarian support.
India Aid to Africa
India’s aid to Africa between 2023 and 2025 has been expansive, strategic, and deeply rooted in the principle of developing together as equals.
Here’s a comprehensive overview of the key areas and initiatives:
Strategic Vision & Diplomatic Engagement
- India reaffirmed Africa as a top priority in its foreign policy, guided by the Kampala Principles and Africa’s own development agenda.
- The African Union was granted permanent membership in the G20 during India’s presidency in 2023.
- India opened 17 new diplomatic missions, bringing its total to 46 across Africa.
Humanitarian Aid & Crisis Response
- Somalia (2025): India dispatched 10 tonnes of medical aid, including surgical items and biomedical equipment, to support Somalia’s response to conflict, drought, and displacement.
- COVID-19 Support: India donated 150 metric tons of medical aid and 24.7 million vaccine doses to 42 African countries.
Education & Capacity Building
- Over 37,000 African professionals trained under the ITEC and ICCR programs between 2013–2023.
- India launched offshore campuses:
- IIT Madras in Zanzibar, Tanzania
- National Forensic Science University in Uganda
- Scholarships offered to 50,000 African students during the 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit.
Digital & Infrastructure Development
- Expansion of the Pan-African e-Network, Africa’s largest digital project, connecting 54 countries for telemedicine, education, and governance.
- India offered UPI integration and digital ID systems to countries like Namibia and Mauritius.
Agriculture & Food Security
- India supported African agriculture through:
- Tractor and equipment grants (e.g., Cameroon, Angola, Sierra Leone)
- Rice and grain shipments to drought-hit countries like Madagascar and Malawi
- India imported pulses from Africa to meet domestic demand, creating a mutually beneficial trade loop.
Energy & Critical Minerals
- India launched a Critical Mineral Mission in 2024, engaging with African nations like DRC, Zambia, and Zimbabwe for cobalt, copper, and lithium.
- Investments in solar energy projects and green infrastructure, including the Solar Mamas program in 36 African countries.
Trade & Investment
- India-Africa trade reached $103 billion in 2023, making India Africa’s third-largest trading partner.
- India pledged $12.25 billion for development projects across Africa in 2023.
- Indian companies committed $14 billion in investments in Nigeria alone.
- India aims to double bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2030.
Security & Defense Cooperation
- India hosted the India-Africa Army Chiefs Conclave and conducted joint military exercises like AFINDEX 2023.
- Defense attachés deployed across key African nations to strengthen maritime and counterterrorism collaboration.
India’s approach has shifted from donor-recipient dynamics to equal partnership, emphasizing local capacity building, shared prosperity, and South-South cooperation.
