• India launched ‘Operation Dost’ to extend assistance to Turkey as well as Syria following the devastating quake on February 6. 

• The massive earthquake has killed more than 35,000 people and flattened thousands of buildings in Turkey and neighbouring Syria.

• India decided to immediately dispatch search and rescue teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), medical teams and relief material to Turkey to offer all possible assistance to the country.

• Operation Dost is India’s latest expression of being a first responder, a net security provider, and a country whose Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief response is quick and available to countries not only in the neighbouring region, but also beyond.

• In the last few days, India sent medicines, a mobile hospital and specialised search and rescue teams onboard military transport aircraft to Turkey to support the country’s rescue efforts.

• India has been able to send more than 250 personnel, specialised equipment and other relief material to Turkey.

• These include three self sustained teams of the NDRF numbering more than 150 specially trained personnel, along with dog squads, specialised equipment, vehicles and other supplies.

• Their equipment allows for detection, location, access and rescue of people trapped under collapsed structures.

• In addition, personnel and equipment have been sent to set up a 30-bed self-sustained field hospital of the Indian Army.

• The Indian Army’s field hospital in Turkey has provided medical treatment to a number of people injured in the earthquake.

Manorama Yearbook app is now available on Google Play Store and iOS App Store