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New Delhi: On Thursday morning, The sixth flight under the mission ‘Operation Dost’ with more search and rescue operation teams arrived in quake-hit Turkey, informed External minister S Jaishankar. India launched ‘Operation Dost’ to extend assistance to Turkey as well as Syria following Monday’s devastating quake that left behind a trail of deaths and destruction in the two countries.
Earlier On Monday, a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit southeast Turkey and Syria. More than 15,000 have been confirmed dead in both countries and thousands more injured with the death toll expected to rise. Taking to Twitter, the foreign minister informed that India has sent more search and rescue teams including three NDRF teams, dog squads, and essential search and medical equipment for the relief efforts.
According to defence officials, three C-17 Globemaster aircraft of the Indian Air Force– two carrying NDRF personnel and one carrying an Army medical team has already been deployed in Turkey. On February 7, India sent to Turkey relief materials, a 30-bed mobile hospital, and specialised search and rescue teams in four C-17 Globemaster military transport aircraft.
Nearly 11 million people inside Syria have been affected by the earthquake, according to the U.N. And 4 million of them rely on aid agencies for basic humanitarian needs like clean water and food. Calling Operation Dost “helpful”, Turkey’s Ambassador to India added, “What we would need in Turkey, especially in the first 72 hours is search and rescue actions together with emergency medical aid and everything is, you know, the start of the operation Dost, it includes search and rescue teams and emergency medical aid. That’s why it is very helpful.”
