Operation Indravati to rescue Indians from Haiti

On 21 March 2024, the Indian External Affairs Minister, S.Jaishankar, on the microblogging site X, wrote that the government of India has launched ‘Operation Indravati’ to relocate stranded Indians in violence-wrecked Haiti to the neighbouring country Dominican Republic. S.Jaishankar also shared the picture of the evacuated 12 Indian citizens on the X site.

According to the External Affairs Ministry, there are about 75 to 90 Indians in Haiti, and about 60 of them have registered with Indian authorities to return to India.

India in Haiti 

India does not have a diplomatic mission in the former French colony Haiti. The situation in the country is being handled by the Indian diplomatic mission in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic is a neighbouring country of Haiti.

Background to Crisis In Haiti 

• Haiti is a former French colony which gained independence in1804. Haiti makes up one third of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. The other two-thirds of the island is called the Dominican Republic,which is a former Spanish colony.
• Since independence, Haiti has been marked by instability and violence. It is one of the most impoverished countries in the Caribbean region. During the brutal rule of dictator Francois Duvalier, ruthless and violent gangs grew in the country, which, over a period of time, became powerful enough to challenge the state power.
• In 2021, then-President Jovenel Moise, accused of corruption, was murdered by unknown assailants at his official residence. Since then, Prime Minister Ariel Henry has been serving as the country's interim president.
• To bring order and control to Haiti, the United Nations Security Council authorised a Kenyan-led multinational security force to maintain peace and order in October 2023.
• However, powerful criminal gangs control a large part of the country and the capital, Port-au-Prince. They have been violently demonstrating in the capital, demanding the resignation of Ariel Henry.
• The country is in complete chaos, and there is no government worth its name. The gangs are virtually controlling the capital, with a large number of people being dead.

Operations Launched by the Government in past

The Government of India has launched various operations in the past to bring back Indians from the conflict zones.

Operation Ajay (2023)

It was launched in 2023 to bring back Indians from Israel after the attack of Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel. 

Operation Kaveri (2023)

The Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Kaveri to evacuate Indian citizens and foreign nationals from Sudan.

Operation Ganga (2022)

Operation Ganga was launched to bring back Indians stranded in neighbouring countries during the 2022 Russia-Ukraine war.

Operation Devi Shakti (2021) 

Operation Devi Shakti was launched by the Indian Armed Forces to evacuate Indian citizens and foreign nationals from Afghanistan after the collapse of the Afghanistan government and takeover of Kabul by Taliban.

Operation Samudra Setu (2020)

It was launched to bring Indians from different countries back to India during the Corona pandemic.

Operation Sankat Mochan (2016)

Indian Air Force launched Operation Sankat Mochan to evacuate Indian citizens and other foreign nationals from South Sudan during the South Sudanese Civil War.

Operation Raahat (2015)

Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Raahat to evacuate Indian citizens and foreign nationals from Yemen after a military operation was launched by Saudi Arabia-led forces in Yemen