Turkiye on Tuesday thanked “dost” India for immediately dispatching rescue teams and relief material within 24 hours of the earthquake there. Syria, which also suffered the tragedy, also thanked India for help.
Appreciating New Delhi’s gesture in this hour of crisis, Turkish Ambassador to India Firat Sunel also said “a friend in need is a friend indeed.”
“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,” he said in a tweet message.
“We really appreciate the help extended by India to Turkey within hours of the earthquake. We too use the word ‘dost’ for a friend. I would say a friend in need is a friend indeed. Friends help each other,” he said.
“India is among the countries that sent teams for search and rescue operations. After the first earthquake India’s NDRF held a coordination meeting on the instruction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Sunel said. Earlier, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan visited Turkish and Syrian Embassies and expressed condolences. He also conveyed Modi’s sympathy and humanitarian support.
Offering condolences to the Turkish and Syrian leadership for loss of lives, Modi on Monday offered all possible assistance. An emergency meeting was also held on Monday chaired by PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.
“Anguished by the loss of lives and damage of property due to the earthquake in Turkey. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon,” Modi said in a tweet.
“India stands in solidarity with the people of Turkey and is ready to offer all possible assistance to cope with this tragedy,” the Prime Minister said tagging a tweet by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the quake. Meanwhile, the Turkish envoy said here, “Yesterday, India sent carriers to Turkey carrying rescue and search teams along with equipment. It arrived in the morning in Adana.”
Also, a second plane went to Turkey and will land before evening.” “What we need most in the initial hours after the earthquake is search and rescue teams with specially trained dog squads. We really appreciate the sincere and kind help of India.
“The first 48-72 hours are very important and Indian rescue teams are in the field,” he said.
On the possibility of Indian affected by the temblor, the envoy said “So far, we have not received any requests from Indians for rescue after the earthquake in Turkey. The Indian mission in Ankara may have received some requests.”
On the magnitude of the disaster, he said earthquake of magnitude of 7.7 hit Turkey, after couple of hours another earthquake of magnitude 7.6 hit Turkey. More than 14 million people affected in southeastern Turkey, it is a big disaster. 21,103 injured, almost 6,000 buildings collapsed, three airports damaged, the envoy said.
Syrian ambassador to India Bassam Al-Khatib said, “When I started getting calls from Damascus, I started coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and they soon responded. It was only a question of some hours and the MEA told me that they are ready, have plan to help Syria and to send the relief and equipments fast.” He also said India from the moment the disaster stuck expressed the wish to be with Syria.”
