‘Operation Dost’: As Turkey and Syria grapple with devastating earthquakes, India is all set to help earthquake-affected countries under ‘Operation Dost’. According to official sources, India has so far sent 841 cartons of medicines, safety protection equipment and diagnostic kits weighing 6.19 tonnes to the two West Asian countries.
The medicines that have been dispatched include Paracetamol 100 ML IV, Ceftriaxone GM INJ, Propofol INJ, etc. The safety and security equipment that has been dispatched includes gowns, gloves, shoe covers and caps.
Other medical aids include a six-channel electrocardiograph, syringe pumps, and a physiological monitor system. Indian Army set up a field hospital under ‘Operation Dost’ to provide assistance to earthquake affected people of Turkey.
The team will do everything possible to provide relief to the affected people: Jaishankar
Earlier on February 9, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said that the team would work 24 x 7 to provide relief to the affected people. “Army field hospital in Iskenderun, Hatay, Turkey has started functioning with medical, surgical and emergency wards, X-ray lab and medical store running,” he wrote on Twitter.
Meanwhile, a field hospital set up by the Indian Army in earthquake-hit Turkey’s Hatay province has also become operational with surgical and emergency wards to provide assistance to the affected people. In addition, personnel and equipment have been sent to set up a 30-bed self-sustaining field hospital of the Indian Army.
It comprises a team of 99 specially trained personnel, who have essential medicines, advanced equipment, vehicles and ambulances. The MEA said that the hospital will provide facilities like fully functional operation theatre, and X-ray, and ventilators.
The death toll has crossed 24,000
It must be mentioned here that the devastating earthquake that destroyed thousands of buildings in Turkey and Syria became one of the deadliest earthquakes worldwide in more than a decade. As per reports, the death toll has crossed 24,000 as rescue operations are underway in both the countries.
Meanwhile, the European Union says it will hold a special donor conference in the coming months to raise money for earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria.
(with inputs from agencies)
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