On Wednesday afternoon, India’s six tons of emergency relief assistance reached the Damascus airport and was received by Syrian Deputy Minister of Local Administration and Environment Moutaz Douaji.
Overview
The delivery included protective gear for rescue operations and medical supplies such as ECG machines and essential emergency medicines.
Syrian ambassador Bassam al-Khatif highlighted that India’s help to Syria is a “sign of South-South solidarity,” adding that New Delhi has always assisted the war-struck country in times of need. The Syrian official further reassured that the authorities would ensure the relief reaches the worst-affected regions, including Aleppo and Jableh.
Press Release on Emergency Relief Assistance delivered to Syria: https://t.co/T5R22upajl pic.twitter.com/tdk2Q3QD8l
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) February 8, 2023
Unlike the aid dispatched to Turkey, India has not sent any military or medical personnel to assist with Syria’s rescue and relief operations.
Countries, including India, have been reluctant to send personnel to Syria, given that the earthquake struck vulnerable regions with an imminent security threat, as control is divided between government and opposition fighters.
WATCH: #India sends first flight with relief aid and medical resources to #Syria, a day after sending rescue teams and assistance to earthquake-hit #Turkey.#Nurdagi #Gaziantep #TurkeyEarthquake #Syria #Israel #Kahramanmaraş #TurkiyeQuakes #RTErdogan #Turkeyearthquake2023 pic.twitter.com/c8IwN17cEr
— Statecraft (@statecraftdaily) February 8, 2023
In addition, the US said that while it is working with its allies to ensure that relief reaches Syria, it remains vehemently opposed to the Assad regime. Secretary of State Antony Blinken clarified that the aid was for the Syrian people, and not in support of President Bashar Al Assad.
Aid for Turkey
India has also dispatched aid to Turkey to help it recover from the devastating natural disaster. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that India’s second C-17 aircraft with relief and rescue material reached Turkey in the early hours of Wednesday.
Further, India dispatched the fourth Indian Air Force aircraft with components of a temporary field hospital and 54 Indian army medical personnel, including surgeons and critical care physicians. The field hospital will have a 30-bed capacity.
On Tuesday morning, New Delhi deployed the first batch of earthquake relief material for Adana, with search and rescue teams, medical equipment, and other emergency equipment. The second consignment also left later on the same day.
Under #OperationDost, India is sending search and rescue teams, a field hospital, materials, medicines and equipment to Türkiye and Syria.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 8, 2023
This is an ongoing operation and we would be posting updates. pic.twitter.com/7YnF0XXzMx
Turkey’s ambassador in New Delhi, Firat Sunel, expressed his gratitude to India for offering help to the disaster-struck country at “the most critical” time. Responding to questions about the recent obstacles between the two countries, mainly due to Turkey’s support for Pakistan’s position on Kashmir, he said that the relations were reflective of “a real friendship.”
He also said that the two countries would help each other in case of need, indirectly referring to Turkey’s decision to send oxygen and medical aid to India during the devastating Delta variant wave of COVID-19.
Operation Dost
Two Indian Airforce aircrafts carrying an @adgpi field hospital for a 30 bedded medical facility have now reached Adana, Türkiye.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 7, 2023
Our team of medical specialists will contribute to relief efforts underway. pic.twitter.com/d3GIwHU7We
Under what is being termed “Operation Dost,” India has actively been sending both Turkey and Syria relief assistance, and other essential rescue and medical supplies since the earthquake struck on Monday.
The name appears to be derived from an earlier tweet by Sunel, who highlighted that the word dost means “friend” in both Hindi and Turkish.
Decade’s Worst Earthquake
With over 9,000 deaths, tens of thousands of people injured, and widespread infrastructure destruction, the Kahramanmaras earthquake is being referred to as the worst in the past decade. Rescue operations, which are being supported by the international community, continue to clear out the debris, save survivors, and recover bodies.