Indian Army team enters quake-hit Syria for the first time, delivers relief material

Aleppo, Feb 16: An Indian Army team deployed as part of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on Wednesday delivered relief material to Aleppo, Syria. The material included rations and medicine from the government of India as well as contributions from the international community.

 

UNDOF is a peacekeeping mission by the United Nations to maintain a ceasefire between Israel and Syria after the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

 

"#IndianArmy team deployed in @UNDOF delivers relief material to Aleppo, #Syria. This included rations & medicines from Government of #India as well as contributions from the international community," Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI), Indian Army tweeted on Wednesday.

 

 

Under 'Operation Dost', Union Health Ministry provided life-saving humanitarian medical Assistance to quake-hit Turkey and Syria. Taking to Twitter, Minister of Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya said, "India is helping Syria and Turkey with the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. @MoHFW_India provided life-saving emergency medicines, protective items, medical equipment, critical care drugs, etc as part of India's efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to Turkey and Syria."

 

According to a statement issued earlier by the Union Health ministry, emergency relief material comprising life-saving medicines, protective items, and critical care equipment valued at over Rs 7 crore was arranged and promptly dispatched to Turkey and Syria.

Operation Dost was launched by the Indian government in order to provide assistance in the earthquake-hit region. Rescue teams from the Army and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were sent as a part of the drive. Three truckloads of relief material were arranged at the Hindon airbase within 12 hours after the earthquake hit the countries.