‘Thank you Dost’: Earthquake-hit Turkey thanks India

Referring to New Delhi as ‘dost’, Turkey’s Ambassador to India Firat Sunel on Tuesday expressed his gratitude to the Indian government for sending relief and humanitarian aid to the quake-hit nation where more than 4,300 people died in the aftermath of a devastating 7.8-magnitude quake that struck an area close to the Syrian border.

"Dost" is a common word in Turkish and Hindi… We have a Turkish proverb: "Dost kara günde belli olur" (a friend in need is a friend indeed).
Thank you very much 🇮🇳@narendramodi @PMOIndia @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia @MOS_MEA #earthquaketurkey https://t.co/nB97RubRJU

— Fırat Sunel फिरात सुनेल فرات صونال (@firatsunel) February 6, 2023

India sent search and rescue teams, medical teams along with relief material to Türkiye in coordination with the Government of Republic of Türkiye on Tuesday. Thanking New Delhi for the same, Sunel on Twitter said, “Dost ” is a common word in Turkish and Hindi… We have a Turkish proverb: “Dost kara gunde belli olur” (a friend in need is a friend indeed). Thank you very much India.”

On Tuesday, India dispatched the first batch of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) capabilities along with NDRF Search and Rescue Teams, specially trained dog squads, medical supplies, drilling machines and other necessary equipment. “Second IAF_MCC C-17 with self-contained NDRF teams including dog squads, search & rescue equipment, extrication tools and vehicles leave for Türkiye. India continues to support the people of Türkiye in their hour of need,” tweeted MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.

“MoS @MoS_MEA visited the Embassy of Türkiye to express condolences on the devastation caused by today’s earthquakes.Conveyed PM @narendramodi’s message of sympathy & humanitarian support. Underscored readiness to send relief material, as well as NDRF & medical teams to assist Türkiye,” added Bagchi.

MoS @MoS_MEA visited Embassy of Türkiye to express condolences on the devastation caused by today's earthquakes.Conveyed PM @narendramodi’s message of sympathy & humanitarian support. Underscored readiness to send relief material,as well as NDRF & medical teams to assist Türkiye. pic.twitter.com/dFDkpqZtlh

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) February 6, 2023

After instructions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, New Delhi offered all possible assistance to cope with the earthquake in Türkiye. “Dr. P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister held a meeting in South Block to discuss immediate relief measures. It was decided that Search & Rescue Teams of NDRF and Medical Teams along with relief material would be dispatched immediately in coordination with the Government of Republic of Türkiye.” Said PMO. The meeting was attended by the Cabinet Secretary, representatives of Ministries of Home Affairs, NDMA, NDRF, Defence, MEA, Civil Aviation and Health & Family Welfare.

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Turkey’s Gaziantep province near the Syrian border claimed thousands of lives. The death toll from the earthquake rose to over 4,300 in Turkey and Syria on Monday. Tremors from the earthquake were felt across the region including Lebanon, Israel, Iraq, and Jordan. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the earthquake was a “historic disaster” adding that, “the country’s flag will fly half-mast till February 12 inside the nation and in foreign representations.”

India and Turkey relationship turned sour because of the latter’s support to Pakistan on Kashmir issue. Apart from India -Russia, Ukraine, South Korea, the UK, Pakistan, the UAE, and the US have offered to help Turkey and Syria out of the crisis.