Operation Dost

NDRF personnel performing search and rescue in Gaziantep, Turkey

India was among the first countries to help earthquake-hit Turkey, according to Turkish envoy Firat Sunel.[12] India immediately sent NDRF squads for rescue operations in affected areas of Turkey on the evening of 6 February 2023.[13] The Indian Air Force sent a C-17 to Adana with 47 personnel from the NDRF, 3 senior officers, and a specially trained dog squad. Accompanying personnel were necessary equipment, including medical supplies, drilling machines and other equipment required for the aid efforts.[14]

The Indian Army medical team before being airlifted to Turkey by the IAF, 7 February 2023.

India provided Garuda Aerospace's Droni drones to the most affected areas to identify those trapped under rubble, along with modified Kisan drones carrying medications, food, and supplies.[15]

The NDRF teams possess chip and stone cutters- tools that break through concrete slabs and other building materials to free victims, as well as radar for detecting heartbeats.[16]

On 7 February 2023, the Indian Air Force sent two more C-17 aircraft to Turkey. These two flights contained relief supplies, a mobile hospital, and additional specialized search-and-rescue teams.[17][18] Along with NDRF personnel, the Agra-based Army Field Hospital dispatched 89 medical staff. The medical team includes both critical care specialists and general physicians, with access to X-ray machines, ventilators, an oxygen generation plant, cardiac monitors, and associated equipment to set up a 30 bedded medical facility.[19]

As of 9 February 2023, India has sent a total of six C-17 aircraft.[20][21]

The 7th flight from the IAF arrived at the Adana Airport in Turkey on 12 February 2023. This flight carried medical equipment like patient monitors, and ECG machines. It also carried disaster relief material and supplies for rescue teams on the ground.[22]

In addition to the supplies delivered by aircraft, India is using a system known as "SANCHAR". Developed by Captain Karan Singh and Sub PG Sapre of the Indian Army, this network-independent tracking and messaging system can help track both team members and assets as they operate in earthquake-hit areas.[23]

Indian Medical personnel team returned to India on 20 February 2023 after successfully built and ran field hospital in İskenderun.[24][25]

Chargé d'Affaires of India to Syria Shri S.K. Yadav (left) shakes hands with Deputy Minister of Local Administration & Environment Moutaz Douaji (right)

Despite concerns of aid not reaching Syria due to the current crisis and the subsequent sanctions, India has remained firm in its stance to assist those who need aid. Sanjay Verma, the Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said "I think what should be uppermost in the mind is the G20 mantra, 'One Earth, One Family, One Future' and in all of this, the present becomes a testing ground on how we as humans come together… sanctions don't cover such humanitarian challenges".[26]

On 8 February 2023, over 6 tons of emergency relief assistance was received at the Damascus Airport by Deputy Minister of Local Administration & Environment Moutaz Douaji- included were 3 truck-loads of protective gear, emergency medications, ECG machines, and other medical supplies.[27]

On 12 February 2023, the 7th IAF flight landed at the Damascus Airport in Syria and was received by Moutaz Douaji. It contained over 23 tons of relief material, including gensets, solar lamps, emergency & critical care medicines, & disaster relief consumables.[28]