India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Anil Chauhan declared on Tuesday that New Delhi has emerged as a “first responder” in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) at a global level.
Speaking at a HADR workshop in New Delhi, organised as a part of India’s chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Chauhan said that India’s role in providing HADR stems from its cultural belief of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” which means that the whole world is one family.
Airports in #Turkey 🇹🇷 run the gratitude messages for #India 🇮🇳 in Hindi language stating — “Thanks for helping us during the difficult time”. pic.twitter.com/9wORziDfYo
— Zahack Tanvir - ضحاك تنوير (@zahacktanvir) March 3, 2023
He underscored that the launch of ‘Operation Dost’ to provide disaster relief and rescue efforts to the earthquake-hit regions in Turkey and Syria is a “testimony to India’s willingness to extend help to all possible corners of the globe.” Chauhan also cited examples of recent Indian HADR efforts, including in Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Madagascar.
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Calling for a “collective approach” to improve HADR efforts during humanitarian crises globally, Chauhan said India has been holding multilateral exercises with various countries and multilateral organisations.
“By strengthening multilateral partnerships through engagement via regional mechanisms, improved interoperability, and faster response, we have played our role as the first responder in the region,” he stressed.
Foreign Rescue Teams in #Turkey
— Abhishek Narang 🇮🇳 (@iabhinarang) February 10, 2023
1- Azerbaijan 725
2- Israel 450
3- France 204
4- India 🇮🇳 201#OperationDost #Turkeyearthquake pic.twitter.com/SIkyhyirb0
The workshop was attended virtually by delegations from SCO members, including China, Pakistan, and Russia. According to the Indian Defence Ministry, the workshop aims to “exchange information and share best practices” related to HADR among SCO members.