Context: Recently, India has launched ‘Operation Dost’ to extend assistance to Turkey and Syria, the nations hit by an intense 7.9-magnitude earthquake.

About Operation Dost

• Operation Dost is an ongoing search and rescue mission initiated by the Government of India to help Syria and Turkey after they witnessed a massive earthquake that left thousands dead, injured and trapped under the rubble.

• Under the operation, India has sent search and rescue teams, mainly three teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), a field hospital, materials, medicines and equipment to Turkey and Syria.

• The Indian Government has sent tons of relief material to both Syria and Turkey in collaboration with the Indian Army as part of Operation.

• Under this, India sent to Turkey relief materials, a mobile hospital, and specialised search and rescue teams.

• It also sent 6 tonnes of relief materials, including life-saving medicines and medical items.

• Syria - India has sent emergency medicines and equipment including portable ECG machines, patient monitors, and other essential medical items to Syria.

Other operations launched by India so far are

• Operation Ganga: It was launched to help stranded Indian nationals come back to India from Ukraine through special flights amidst the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

• USA: An Indian Air Force aircraft delivered 25 tonnes of relief supplies for the Hurricane Katrina victims in USA.

• Maldives: Under “Operation Castor”, 4 aircraft and 2 Naval ships were engaged in relief operations, after the 2004 Tsunami.

• Sri Lanka: India sent its forces to carry out rescue operations, called “Operation Rainbow”, in Sri Lanka hours after the 2004 Tsunami.

• Myanmar:  When cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar in 2008, India sent relief material and among the first countries to send aid.

• Japan: India sent 46 members of NDRF for rescue operations, after 2011 Tsunami, apart from providing relief materials.

• Nepal: In the aftermath of the 2015 earthquakes, the NDRF deployed 16 rescue teams and sent tonnes of relief materials to Nepal.