In the wake of tragic earthquake that struck North-Western Syria on 6 February 2022 causing massive destruction and loss of precious lives, the Government of India, has dispatched 6 tons of emergency relief assistance through a special aircraft of Indian Airforce to Syria.
The consignment was handed over by Cd’A of India to Syria Shri S. K. Yadav to the Deputy Minister of Local Administration and Environment of Syria Moutaz Douaji at Damascus Airport today morning. The consignment consists of emergency medicines and equipments including portable ECG machines, patient monitors and other essential medical items.
India over the years has been extending humanitarian, technical and developmental assistance to Syria through bilateral and multilateral channels. Consignments of food and medicines have been supplied to Syria from time to time, including during the pandemic. Two Artificial Limb Fitment Camps (Jaipur Foot) have been organized in Syria in December 2020 and recently in October-November 2022. A Next-Gen Centre for Information Technology was set up in Damascus in October 2021. About 1500 scholarships have been provided to Syrian students to study in India in diverse streams.
On Tuesday, search and rescue teams, medical teams along with relief materials was dispatched to Turkey in coordination with the Government of the Republic of Türkiye to help those who have been affected in February 6 earthquake, where over 4000 people died.
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.