How Indian Army’s Operation Dost In Turkey Is Winning Hearts

Operation Dost of the Indian Army is a humanitarian attempt of India to support disaster-struck Turkey in tough times and recovering from the loss caused by the earthquake that caused huge destruction in the country. Under the operation, India is sending Turkey rescue teams, medicines and other necessities.

Turkey and Syria saw massive destruction to property and people when an earthquake of 7.8 magnitudes hit the country on February 6. Thousands of people were buried and people were left homeless as big buildings collapsed due to the earthquake. In times of crisis, India decided to help Turkey which gave birth to Operation Dost of the Indian Army which aims at providing every possible support that the country might need to deal with the effects of the natural disaster including medical facilities, rescue teams and equipment to carry out rescue operations. Here's how the operation is helping Turkish people during this time of calamity.

Suggested Reading: Turkey-Syria Earthquakes: Seismologist Explains What Happened

Indian Army's Operation Dost

India acted as soon as possible on hearing the news of the earthquake in Turkey and by February 8, relief materials, three rescue teams of the National Disaster Response Force, four canines and seven trucks filled with medical equipment, medicines and rescue equipment were airlifted from India to Turkey by heavy lift aircraft Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17  from Ghaziabad's Hindon air base. By Thursday, the army field hospital set up by Indian Army in Iskenderun, Hatay equipped with an X-Ray lab, emergency wards and a medical store started operating 24x7 to provide medical support to affected people.

India also sent equipment, dog squads and special vehicles for easier detection and rescue of people stuck in the rubble. India's NDRF team rescued a six-year-old girl on Thursday stuck in rubble in Nurdagi, Gaziantep. The teams are making use of stone cutters and chunks to dig through the concrete and have set up radars that detect even weak heartbeats in the rubble. Turkish people have shown their gratitude towards the Indian Army that is present on the ground to help deal with the disaster and it can be proven by the viral picture of a Turkish woman kissing an Indian Army female officer on the cheeks.

India recently set a new batch of 841 cartons filled with diagnostic kits and medicines to Turkey. So far, the authorities have detected around 23,000 deaths and have rescued more than 8,000 survivors. Indian Army is working along with the Turkish teams in freezing weather to find survivors and provide immediate help to them because of the bad weather conditions.