HADR: A CALL TO OUR CONSCIENCE

Natural calamities are inevitable, and at times they showcase mother nature’s fury side. From massive earthquakes that rocked Turkey and Syria to the devastating forest fires that ravaged Chile and flash floods in the Southern Hemisphere, February has been a month of deadly natural calamities.

During any calamities, where we all return to our basics, i.e ‘humanity’ irrespective of class, creed, religion, gender, socioeconomic quo, or any other parameter of perpetual social differences that we all sadly follow, knowingly or unknowingly. While calamities are destructive and taxing, all they occasionally do to us - is knock our conscience. And at this juncture, a military drill comes to the fore is – HADR (Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief)

It is when we have seen the world to stand – secular in all truthfulness. Each time HADR support is extended for any victim nation, it is delivered through the Armed Forces being functional onground, reverberating to their call of duty. Be it the combat ready, Army – an agile Air Force, the silent and cohesive Navy, or any specialized task force like – NDRF. All stand one, with a common objective to their super vigilant senses, i.e, to appease humanity and save lives.

Recently, HADR was extended to the quake-hit nations of Syria and Turkiye. Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, was instrumental in sending the prompt HADR for both the victim nations. India has aided the victim countries in the spirit of its age-old tradition of – “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.”

India has provided lifesaving emergency medicines, protective items, medical equipment, critical care drugs, etc, as part of India’s HADR plan, calling it – Operation Dost this time.

On 6th February 2023, when two powerful earthquakes hit Syria and Turkey, three truckloads of relief materials were mobilized at Hindon airbase consisting of life-saving emergency medicines and protective items within 12 hours. Trucks started reaching by 10:00 am on 7th Feb, 2023, and handing over of the relief items to the Indian Air Force (IAF) began by 04:00 pm. The last truckload reached by 09:30 pm, and the flight departed to Syria with emergency relief material on the same day by 10:00 pm for the relief operation.

The consignment consisted of 5,945-ton emergency relief material, including 27 life-saving medicines, two kinds of protective items, and three categories of critical care equipment, valued at approximately Rs 2 crore. On 10th February 2023, additional relief materials were arranged for Turkiye and Syria. The consignment for Syria consisted of 72 critical care drugs, consumables, and protective items of 7.3 tons, valued at Rs 1.4 crore. Relief materials sent for Turkiye included 14 types of medical and critical care equipment valued at Rs 4 crore.

It is learned that the medical corps of our Indian Army, with their Field Hospital, treated over 3,600 earthquake victims in Hatya Province of Turkiye. Furthermore, the Indian disaster relief team, comprising 99 personnel of the Indian Army Field Hospital and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) returned to India on February 20, 2023, after putting in a stupendous effort to provide medical relief to disaster victims in Hatya Province of Turkey hit by the earthquake. The effort has been applauded both at the National and International levels. The Indian Army Field Hospital has treated 3604 casualties, provided emergency medical care, and performed 04 x significant surgeries, 63 x minor surgeries, 343 minor procedures, including 87 x POP applications for fixing fractures.

The Indian Army Field Hospital comprising of 99 personnel, including various Specialist Medical Officers and Paramedics, established their Hospital at Iskenderun, Hatay Province, Turkey on 08 Feb 2023, which included a fully functional OT and Trauma Care Centre. The Specialists have Medical, Surgical, Anaesthetists, Orthopaedicians, Maxillofacial surgeons, and Community Medicine specialists to assist earthquake victims. Besides this, a Lady Medical Officer has also been sent to render medical care to female patients/casualties.

In addition, the Indian Army Field Hospital provided Dental treatment to 242 patients, carrying out 283 precautionary X-rays on trauma victims. 14 x patients were admitted, and 97 x patients were detained and treated. 1159 Lab investigations were carried out on the cases reported for treatment. Indian Army has replenished the Field Hospital through Medical and Surgical bricks and Orthopaedic equipment.

On the administrative front, the team had also set up a reception desk for receiving donations and distributing them to the needy. Later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with and lauded the National Disaster Response Force members, Indian Army, and Indian Air Force, who were deployed on Operation Dost on Monday, February 20, 2023.

NDRF and the army finalized its team, and officials concerned at the ministry of external affairs worked till late on February 6, the day earthquakes hit Turkey and Syria, to issue a passport to everyone. Most of the team members needed passports. The rescuers had to be flown immediately, so MEA opened their offices and printed the passports. Separately, the Turkish embassy in Delhi also ensured visas on arrival for all the rescuers, as reported.

Reminiscing the totality of Operation Dost, I would like to quote Mahatma Gandhi here, “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will” – Yes, a will to safeguard humanity and do whatever it takes.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

SAYAN CHATTERJEE The writer is a Delhi-based, DCC-qualified defence beat writer and independent contributor to print and online publications