Indian Citizens Send Help To Earthquake-Battered Turkey, Ambassador Says 'Thank You'

Turkish Ambassador to India Firat Sunel took to Twitter and thanked the Indian citizens for extending help and donating essential items to the people affected by the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on February 6.

Ambassador thanks India

A Turkish Airlines flight took off from Delhi carrying material donated by the Indians on Monday. The Ambassador tweeted: "Thank you, India! Each tent, each blanket or sleeping bag are of vital importance for the hundreds of thousands of earthquake survivors."

THANK YOU INDIA! ??????
Each tent, each blanket or sleeping bag are of vital importance for the hundreds of thousands of earthquake survivors. https://t.co/v9rsXtdzjL

¡ª F?rat Sunel ????? ????? ???? ????? (@firatsunel) February 13, 2023

India has been running 'Operation Dost' in Turkey and Syria, ever since the countries were hit by the calamity.

Sunel had previously tweeted: "Another batch of emergency in-kind donations from the people of India is on the way to Turkey. @TurkishAirlines @TK_INDIA carries the aids on a daily basis to the earthquake hit region, free of charge."

Earlier, a picture of a Turkish woman kissing the face of an Indian Army woman soldier who was working in Turkey to provide rescue and relief, was going viral online. The post was shared by the official Twitter handle of the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI) of the Indian Army. They wrote in the caption, "We care."

#OperationDost

We Care.#IndianArmy#T¨¹rkiye pic.twitter.com/WoV3NhOYap

¡ª ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) February 9, 2023

Many people have lauded the efforts of the Army. "They are not for war. But to protect own country people and every other country in need. Big Kudos to the team. #OperationDost" said a user. "Humanity is the biggest Religion and Truth in the world, and Core of Spirit of Indian Culture," said a second person.

Death toll

The death toll from last Monday's earthquake in Turkey and Syria has now topped 36,000. In Turkey alone, 31,643 people were recorded dead, the country¡¯s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said. The confirmed death toll in Syria is 4,574. That number includes more than 3,160 in opposition-held parts of northwestern Syria, according to the health ministry of the Salvation Government governance authority. The Syrian death toll also includes 1,414 deaths in government-controlled parts of Syria, according to state news agency SANA.

Aerial Images Shows Scale Of Destruction In Turkey And Syria After Powerful Earthquake | Photo: AFP

About 26 million people across Turkey and Syria have been affected by the earthquakes, with dozens of medical facilities damaged, the World Health Organization said in a recent report, which makes an appeal for nearly $42.8 million in immediate aid.

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