New Delhi. The Indian Army, along with the NDRF, under ‘Operation Dost’ has sent the seventh aircraft with relief material to earthquake-hit Turkey and Syria.
“India is providing assistance to the two countries in the spirit of its age-old tradition of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” said Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, on February 14.
On February 6, 2023, two powerful earthquakes hit Syria and Turkey. Huge devastation has been caused by the country’s worst earthquake in modern history. More than 35,000 people have lost their lives in both countries till now due to the three earthquakes of 7.8, 7.6, and 6.0 magnitude. NDRF team and Indian Army are engaged in the rescue operation in Turkey and Syria.
India launched ‘Operation Dost’ to send a massive amount of humanitarian aid to earthquake hit Turkey and Syria.
On February 12, the relief material for Turkey was delivered at Adana Airport by Operation Dost Flight. This included medical equipment like patient monitors, ECGs, syringe pumps, and disaster relief material, along with supplies for the teams on the ground. The flight reached Syria with over 23 tons of relief material, including gensets, solar lamps, emergency and critical care medicines, and disaster relief consumables. Moutaz Douaji, Deputy Minister of Local Administration and Environment, received the consignment at Damascus International Airport.
Humanitarian medical assistance
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has played an important role in sending humanitarian medical assistance. On February 6, 3 truck load of relief materials were arranged at Hindon airbase consisting of life saving emergency medicines and protective items within 12 hours. Trucks started reaching by 10:00 a.m. on February 7, and handing over of the relief items to the Indian Air Force (IAF) began by 4:00 p.m. The last truck load reached by 09:30 pm and the flight departed to Syria with emergency relief material on the same day by 10:00 pm for the relief operation. The consignment consisted of 5,945 tonnes of emergency relief material, which included 27 life-saving medicines, two kinds of protective items, and three categories of critical care equipment, valued at approximately Rs 2 crore.
On February 10, a bigger lot of relief materials was arranged for both Turkey and Syria. The consignment for Syria consisted of 72 critical care drugs, consumables, and protective items totalling 7.3 tonnes, valued at Rs 1.4 crore. 14 types of medical and critical care equipment worth Rs 4 crore were sent to Turkey as relief materials.
India’s Ambassador to Turkey, Dr. Virander Paul, was seen with the Indian Army team at Field Hospital, Iskenderun, Hatay, which was mobilised within hours of the earthquakes. The hospital is treating hundreds of Turkish people daily. The word “dost” means friend in both Hindi and Turkish. It is clear that India stands tall alongside its counterpart during humanitarian crises, as they say, “a friend in need is indeed a friend.”
Inputs – NewsOnAir
