Tag: Turkiye

People in Turkiye got emotional while bidding us goodbye: Indian Army’s medical team

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New Delhi: Tears in eyes, warm affection and a deep sense of gratitude — this is how emotionally moved Turkish citizens bid farewell to a medical team of the Indian Army when they were departing from Turkiye after rendering humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to the quake-ravaged country.
The 99-member self-contained team that successfully set up and ran a fully equipped 30-bedded field hospital in Iskenderun, Hatay Province, has returned to India to a hero’s welcome.
Some of the team members PTI interacted with, shared their experiences and challenges, and spoke of the warmth and cooperation they received from Turkish people, despite “a language barrier”.
“They (Turkish citizens) were crying when we were leaving. It was a very emotional moment for us as well. They hugged us to say thank you, it was a humbling experience,” said a member of the team, on the condition of anonymity.
“What we saw there was painful, scenes of devastation and destruction left by the massive earthquake and its powerful aftershock on February 6,” he said.
The medical team of 60 Para Field Hospital provided assistance to quake-affected people in Turkiye from February 7-19.
Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande on Tuesday said the force is proud of its medical team for rendering humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to quake-hit Turkiye, and asserted that the mobilisation of a field hospital in short time indicates the team’s excellent operational preparedness.
He said this after interacting with members of the medical team here.

The field hospital treated about 3,600 people, conducted numerous major and minor surgeries, including one amputated and life-saving surgery, he said.
“The hospital was mobilised at a short notice of six hours, and they moved to Turkiye, and they landed there at Adana airfield on February 8 and within a short period of time, the Indian Army medical team established a 30-bed field hospital at Iskenderun in Hatay region,” Gen Pande told reporters.
“It was the timely decision and excellent inter-agency coordination among all stakeholders, due to which they were among the first few medical teams to reach Turkiye,” he said.
India launched ‘Operation Dost’ to extend assistance to Turkiye as well as Syria after various parts of the two countries were hit by a devastating earthquake on February 6 that has killed over 30,000 people.
Another member of the medical team said many Turkish people just came to “see and meet us” knowing an assistance team had arrived from India.
“One man had even travelled a very long distance by road to reach the field hospital that was set up in a school, and he told us that he had come just to meet people from ‘Hindistan’ (India),” the team member recalled.
Turkish people refer to India as ‘Hindistan’, he said with a smile.
Asked how they managed to tide over the language barrier, the medical team member said “there were interpreters to aid us”.
“English language teachers also helped us in interacting with Turkish citizens, and vice versa,” he said.
Army Chief Gen Pande on Tuesday also said the medical team is extremely appreciative of the assistance and cooperation extended to them by Turkish citizens.
“Mobilisation of field hospital in such short time in Turkiye also indicates the excellent operational preparedness they maintain at all time,” Gen Pande said.
India’s ’60 Para Field Ambulance’ unit has an illustrious track record and it had also provided crucial medical support to the injured during the Korean War in 1950s.
“We are proud of our medical team for rendering humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to quake-hit people in Turkiye,” Gen Pande said.
India sent relief materials as well as medical and rescue teams to Turkiye following the quake. As part of quake assistance, India also sent relief materials and medicines to Syria.
The Ministry of Defence in a statement on Monday had said the Indian disaster relief team, comprising 99 personnel of Indian Army Field Hospital and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) returned home on February 20, after putting in a “stupendous effort” to provide medical relief to disaster victims in Hatay Province of Turkiye, hit by earthquake.
The medical team comprising 99 personnel, including various specialist medical officers and paramedics, established their field hospital at Iskenderun on Turkiye on February 8, which included a fully functional operational theatre and trauma care centre, it said.
The specialists include medical specialist, surgical specialists, anaesthetists, orthopaedicians, maxillofacial surgeon and community medicine specialist for rendering medical assistance to earthquake victims. Besides, a woman medical officer was also sent for rendering medical care to women patients, the statement said.
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#People #Turkiye #emotional #bidding #goodbye #Indian #Armys #medical #team
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 22, 2023
Rescue team unearths USD 2 million cash under collapsed building after Turkiye earthquake

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In the aftermath of the earthquake that struck eastern Turkiye last week, a rescue team has made a stunning discovery. Amid the rubble, the team found $2 million in cash buried under a collapsed building.
The discovery was made by a rescue team in the city of Gaziantep, which was one of the hardest hit by the 6.8 magnitude earthquake. The cash was found buried under the wreckage of a four-story building that had collapsed during the quake.
According to local media reports, the building was believed to be the home of a wealthy businessman, and the cash was likely being kept in a safe. The discovery has led to speculation that there may be more hidden caches of cash in the area.
THEY DELIVERED $2 MILLION TO THE POLICE
Firefighters, who carried out search and rescue activities in Gaziantep, which was affected by the earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş, delivered approximately 2 million dollars from the rubble to the police.@GaziantepBeld pic.twitter.com/fdWP4NrgV8
— JournoTurk (@journoturk) February 18, 2023
The Turkish government has been providing aid to the earthquake victims, and the discovery of the cash has raised questions about how the government will handle the funds. The government has not yet made a statement about the discovery, but it is expected that the funds will be used to help with the recovery efforts.
The earthquake that struck eastern Turkiye last week has left at least 41 people dead and over 1,600 injured. Rescue efforts are ongoing, and many people are still missing. The discovery of the cash has provided a glimmer of hope in the midst of the tragedy, and it is hoped that it will help to provide some much-needed relief to the people of Elazig.
(With inputs from agencies)
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#Rescue #team #unearths #USD #million #cash #collapsed #building #Turkiye #earthquake
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 21, 2023
Indian Army’s medical team returns from Turkiye

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New Delhi: Indian Army’s medical team which was deployed under ‘Operation Dost’ in earthquake-hit Turkiye, return to India. The 99-member self-contained team successfully set up and ran a fully equipped 30-bedded Field Hospital in Iskenderun, Hatay, attending to nearly 4000 patients round the clock. (Twitter)
New Delhi: Indian Army’s medical team which was deployed under ‘Operation Dost’ in earthquake-hit Turkiye, return to India. The 99-member self-contained team successfully set up and ran a fully equipped 30-bedded Field Hospital in Iskenderun, Hatay, attending to nearly 4000 patients round the clock. (Twitter)
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 20, 2023
Himmat-e-Mardaan, Madad-e-Khudaa’: ‘Hyemath Kashmir’ in Unison with ‘Nuqoosh-e-Rah’ Scramble to Enhearten Türkiye Qua

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‘Himmat-e-Mardaan, Madad-e-Khudaa’: ‘Hyemath Kashmir’ in Unison with ‘Nuqoosh-e-Rah’ Scramble to Enhearten Türkiye Quake Victims
Highly proud of our people, for we frankly didn’t expect such an overwhelming response: ‘Hyemath Kashmir’ Founder & Vice-president Azhar Malik
“Our contributions may not be much but we want to tell our brethren in Türkiye that we have been anguished deeply by this catastrophe and their loss”: ‘Nuqoosh-e-Rah’ Founder Sheikh Rizwana
ASIF IQBAL
Srinagar, Feb 15 (GNS): Deeply moved by the tragedy befallen the brethren in Türkiye, earlier this month, two Kashmir-based charity groups, ‘Hyemath Kashmir’ alongside ‘Nuqoosh-e-Rah’, came forward and with sheer faith and hope appealed compatriots to make any sorts’ of contribution to facilitate its dispatch as a token of love and solidarity with the quake-ravaged people, literally living across seven seas.
Not knowing how the appeal will fare out, Founder and Vice-president of ‘Hyemath Kashmir’ (Hyemath/Himmat – Courage) Azhar Malik says it was three days after the devastating earthquake that the Turkish embassy in New Delhi asked for contribution towards the victims and his ‘Trust’, thought of playing its part. “Once we went through the requirements, we sent out an appeal to our people in Kashmir to come forward with their contributions”, says Azhar.
“Little knowing how the appeal will be reciprocated by the people, we were nonetheless left astonished as the people came from far and wide with different things to donate at our two collection centres setup in Indra Nagar and Nowhatta”, a buoyed Azhar says.
“We as a team of thirty people were literally put to test as people came with raincoats, sweaters, beanies, gloves, sanitary pads, dry fruits, sleeping bags, milk, baby formula, diapers and other essential commodities until we recently received a requisition that the embassy has only sought blankets and sleeping bags”, says Azhar.

“We received nearly two hundred blankets, over 300 sleeping bags, over a hundred jackets, three boxes of sanitary pads, four large-sized boxes full of dry fruits, two large sized boxes of dry milk, over four hundred pairs of socks and other commodities.”
“Since the day we sent out the appeal, we have been continuously receiving calls from volunteers across Kashmir to join the initiative, which is quite heartening for all of us”, says Azhar.
“It wouldn’t have been a possible thing for us to do, had India not allowed the aid”, says Azhar adding “We are thankful to Fast Beetle – Srinagar-based courier and parcel service company, which ferried the collected aid from Kashmir to the Turkish embassy in New Delhi, absolutely free of cost.”
“We are highly proud of our people for we frankly didn’t expect such an overwhelming response, we saw people coming to the collection centres with their donations even during the snowfall”, says Azhar while talking to GNS.
“We are currently on standby as the embassy is yet to make any further requisition and once we receive any (requisition), we’ll go back to collect more donations as and when sought”, says Azhar.
Asked what actually inspired them to name their charity group as ‘Hyemath’ (Kashmir), Azhar says it was in the year 2020, when the Covid pandemic was at its peak and they in a bid to help out the people came on ground. “Every once, we helped out anyone, he/she would cheer us saying ‘Rab Dinow Himmat’ (May Allah be on your side) and this ‘Himmat’ is what our strength, courage and more apt to say our ‘Hyemath’ is all about.”
“From 2020 onwards, we have been assisting the needful families in weddings and empowering the underprivileged sections of society in any way possible besides holding mass Iftari during holy month of Ramadhan”, he said adding we as a team believe that more empowerment of our people, will ultimately help us to donate more and make our society self-sufficient.
“There currently are 25 members in our Trust, 5 registered and 20 on voluntarily basis”, he said adding while I am the Founder and vice-president of the ‘Trust’, four other persons are Fazieel Bhat as President, Saheem Ashraf as General Secretary, Mohammad Ilyas as Joint Secretary & Media Secretary and Babar Mubarak as Treasurer.
The contribution would have been less, had we not been complimented by Sheikh Rizwana – a Quran tutor, running a charity group ‘Nuqoosh-e-Rah’, says Azhar.
“Rizwana’s contribution towards the initiative has been immense throughout and we are highly thankful to her”, Azhar said.
When GNS reached out to Sheikh Rizwana, it learnt that the 32-year-old female from Saida Kadal Srinagar, despite being at odds with life, has not only been an online Quran tutor (Tajweed and Tafseer included) for over 250 (female students) in Kashmir, with a regular attendance of a sizable number of students from mainland India and outside, but at the same time has completed her DFSM (Dietetics & Food Service Management) degree and is currently working as a Biochemistry teacher at prestigious RP School (Boys) at Alamdar Colony, Lal Bazar.
Rizwana has been enduring protracted illness from 2006, however it has not held her back from carrying out philanthropic activities, whenever the situation arose.
“I have been involved in societal welfare activities from a very long time now, apt to say from the time when I was myself earning comparatively less”, says Rizwana.
“I have been unwell for last 17 years now owing to which I remain bed-ridden for most of the time”, says Rizwana adding I braved the odds and mustered courage and joined RP School where I would collect donations from my fellow teachers and donate it among the needy people in the community.
“I underwent a surgery in the year 2019, following which however my locomotory issues aggravated, resulting in me remaining bed-ridden for most of the time. A year later i.e 2020, I formally started my online classes for teaching the Quran.”
Explaining further Rizwana says, as the things appeared out of my control, I would think and rethink for hours altogether what should be I doing from here on, and in the middle of all this, I thought of religion ‘Islam’ more actively to please my Almighty Allah and it was then that I decided to teach the Holy Quran. Once I made my decision public, I Alhamdulillah got a good response and it has gone fairly well from then onwards with the blessings of Allah the Almighty. I am currently teaching over 250 female students all across, even worldwide, with the permission of my Sheikh Maulana Rehmatulla Mir Qasmi (DB) – founder and rector of Darul Uloom Raheemiyyah Bandipora.”
“I had initially started my classes free of cost, but many of the students turned out to be non-serious and truant which left me with no option then to charge the fee with the only intention to donate the collected amount among the needy people in the society”, says Rizwana.
Regarding the Turkey earthquake, Rizwana says when she saw some of the video-clips on social media, she was moved by the devastation caused by the earthquake. “Watching those heart wrenching scenes, I decided to put my share in whatever possible way and asked the students to make their contribution. It was quite heart-warming how the students responded to the appeal”, says Rizwana adding, “Our contributions may not be much but we want to tell our brethren in Turkiye and Syria that we have been anguished deeply by this catastrophe and their loss.”
“Being myself bed-ridden I was clueless as how to make it possible the aid reaches to the intended place – and it was then a social-worker Asif Mushtaq (Huzaif) introduced ‘Hyemath Kashmir’ to me and I donated the collectibles to them.”
“Despite facing many health issues, it is only because of the sheer blessings of Almighty Allah that I continue to strive and do whatever I can for the larger benefit of people”, says Rizwana.
“I am highly thankful to my Sheikh Maulana Rehmatullah Sahib, Mufti Abdul Rashid Qasmi, Qazi Imran and Mufti Mansoor among other scholars who have guided me every once I need to contact them on any issue”, Rizwana said.
Notably, a catastrophic and destructive Mw 7.8 earthquake struck Türkiye and Syria on February 6, 2023 – leading to death of nearly 42000 people and injuries to over 70000, as on date, besides causing widespread damage to residential houses and other buildings. (GNS)
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#HimmateMardaan #MadadeKhudaa #Hyemath #Kashmir #Unison #NuqoosheRah #Scramble #Enhearten #Türkiye #Qua
( With inputs from : thegnskashmir.com )

February 16, 2023
Turkiye consulate thanks Hyderabad; Embassy seeks financial aid for victims

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Hyderabad: The Consulate General of Turkiya has profusely thanked Hyderabad for the generous relief it has gathered and sent for the earthquake-affected people.
In a statement that the consulate general has issued to the media it said, “All our warehouses are full of in-kind aids. Thank you Hyderabad. Alhamdulillah…”
The consulate general has requested the people of Hyderabad to now focus on cash donations instead of sending additional items.
In the meantime, Zahid Ali Khan, Editor Siasat Daily, and philanthropist Iftekhar Hussain have jointly appealed for donations for the earthquake-affected people in Turikiye. “Hyderabad has a tradition of contributing generously to the well-being of the people affected by natural and man-made tragedies. Once again Hyderabad should rise to help the earthquake-hit people in Turikiye. Please deposit your donations to the address provided by the Turkish embassy in New Delhi.”
Meanwhile, the Turkish embassy in New Delhi too has sought financial assistance. In a notification, it said, “Volunteers from India who are willing to donate for the people in earthquake-hit areas of Turikiye, kindly find the information of the official bank account of the Turkish Embassy in New Delhi below:
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 11, 2023
Operation Dost: Indian Army’s field hospital starts functioning in quake-ravaged Turkiye

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New Delhi: A field hospital set up by the Indian Army in Hatay province of quake-ravaged Turkiye has become operational with surgical and emergency wards to provide succour to the affected people days after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake and several powerful aftershocks hit that country.
The quake-hit Turkiye and Syria on Monday, killing over 17,000 people and flattening several buildings. India has launched ‘Operation Dost’ to extend assistance to both the countries.
On Tuesday, India had sent to Turkiye relief materials, a mobile hospital and specialised search and rescue teams in four C-17 Globemaster military transport aircraft to support the country’s rescue efforts.
On Wednesday, India had despatched relief materials in another aircraft to Turkiye.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday took to Twitter to provide update on the relief work done by India in Turkiye.
“The army field hospital in Iskenderun, Hatay, T rkiye has started functioning with running Medical, Surgical & Emergency Wards; X-Ray Lab & Medical Store. @adgpi team will work 24 x 7 to provide relief to the affected people. #OperationDost,” Jaishankar tweeted and shared pictures of the field hospital.
Jaishankar had earlier shared photos of teams from India’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) commencing search operation in Turkiye’s Gaziantep.
The MEA said India has been able to send more than 250 personnel, specialised equipment and other relief material amounting to more than 135 tonnes to Turkiye on five C-17 IAF aircraft.

These include three self sustained teams of the NDRF numbering more than 150 specially trained personnel, along with dog squads, specialised equipment, vehicles and other supplies.
“Their equipment allows for detection, location, access and rescue of people trapped under collapsed structures,” the MEA said.
In addition, personnel and equipment have been sent to set up a 30-bed self-sustained field hospital of the Indian Army.
This includes a team of 99 specially-trained personnel with essential medicines, advanced equipment, vehicles, and ambulances.
The MEA said the hospital will provide for a fully functional operation theatre, and facilities such as X-ray, and ventilators among others.
The Indian Army on Thursday also tweeted a picture of a woman hugging an Indian Army personnel on duty at the field hospital: “#OperationDost We Care. #IndianArmy #Turkiye”.
MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, in a tweet on Wednesday, had said: “#OperationDost in full swing! The @adgpi Field Hospital being set up at Iskenderun, Hatay province in T rkiye. Once functional, it will be a 30-bedded fully-equipped medical facility with Operation Theatre, X-ray machines, ventilators, etc.”.
#OperationDost in full swing!
The @adgpi Field Hospital being set up at Iskenderun, Hatay province in Türkiye.
Once functional, it will be a 30-bedded fully-equipped medical facility with Operation Theatre, X-ray machines, ventilators, etc. pic.twitter.com/aq17lDt97t
— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) February 8, 2023
India decided to immediately dispatch search and rescue teams of the NDRF, medical teams and relief material to Turkiye following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s instructions to offer all possible assistance to the country on Monday.
India also sent relief materials on board a C-130J aircraft of the Indian Air Force to Syria on Tuesday.
Asked about sending aid to Syria when the country has been under US sanctions, Secretary (West) in the MEA Sanjay Verma had said that India is following the G20 mantra of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’.
“Sanctions don’t cover such humanitarian assistance,” he said.
Meanwhile, Syrian Embassy in India issued an appeal seeking help.
“Syria has been struck by a massive earthquake with 7.7 magnitude on Richter scale, which led to hundreds of death and thousands of injuries. Many buildings collapsed and people are still trapped under the debris. The Syrian government mobilised all its forces to meet the challenges and reach to the affected victims, providing them with shelter and essential supplies,” it said in its appeal issued in a statement.
“We are appealing to our Indian friends from all strata of society to come forward and help,” it said.

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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 10, 2023
NDRF team rescues 6-year-old girl from debris in quake-hit Turkiye

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New Delhi: A team of India’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) engaged in relief and rescue operations in the quake-hit Turkiye has successfully rescued a six-year-old girl from under the rubble in Gaziantep.
The NDRF has dispatched three teams to Turkiye for rescue operations.
“Standing with Turkiye in this natural calamity. India’s @NDRFHQ is carrying out rescue and relief operations at ground zero. Team IND-11 successfully retrieved a 6 years old girl from Nurdagi, Gaziantep today,” the spokesperson of the Ministry of Home Affairs tweeted along with a video of the girl and how she was rescued.
In a tweet, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, “Proud of our NDRF. In the rescue operations in T rkiye, Team IND-11 saved the life of a six-year-old girl, Beren, in Gaziantep city. Under the guidance of PM @narendramodi, we are committed to making @NDRFHQ the world’s leading disaster response force. #OperationDost.”
India launched “Operation Dost” to extend assistance to Turkiye as well as Syria following Monday’s devastating quake that has killed more than 19,300 people in the two countries so far.
The NDRF is working to extricate live victims from under the rubble and providing first-aid to the injured, before handing them over to medical response authorities.
The force is using chip and stone cutters to breach fallen concrete slabs and other infrastructure and has deep radars that pick feeble sounds like the heartbeat or sound of a person, officials said.
The teams on the ground have quick deployed antenna and satellite phones for communication.

Seven four-wheeled vehicles and trucks, apart from four canines, were sent along the three teams that were airlifted by an Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17 heavy lift aircraft from the Hindon air base in Ghaziabad to the Adana airport in Turkiye.
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#NDRF #team #rescues #6yearold #girl #debris #quakehit #Turkiye
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 9, 2023