India gifting 2,000 metric tonnes of rice to Syria: MEA

India is gifting 2,000 metric tonnes of rice to Syria following a request from the Arab republic, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday.

The first consignment of 1,000 metric tonnes of rice was handed over by Indian ambassador to Syria Hifzur Rahman to Syrian Minister of Local Administration Hussain Makhlouf at Latakia Port on Thursday, the MEA said in a statement.

The MEA said the remaining 1,000 metric tonnes of rice is expected to reach Syria on February 18.

"In response to a request from the government of the Syrian Arab Republic for emergency humanitarian assistance, the government of India is gifting 2,000 MT of rice to strengthen food security in Syria," the MEA said.

It said India has always stood in solidarity with the people of Syria, and its bilateral engagement has continued apace even during the years of internal conflict in that country.

India had earlier gifted 10 metric tonnes of medicines to Syria in July last year as part of Covid-19 assistance, the MEA said.