Turkey came to the aid of the needy people of Nepal, after it was stricken by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, through both governmental institutions and nongovernmental organizations.

By standing beside the Nepalese people, who suffered the most severe earthquake in 80 years, Turkey is lending a helping hand to Nepal in many fields, from search and rescue efforts to food, drugs and sanitation materials.

In the aftermath of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that shook Nepal, the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) within the Office of the Prime Minister, as well as the National Medical Rescue Team (UMKE) within the Ministry of Health, along with civil search and rescue teams coordinated by AFAD started their relief efforts as soon as they arrived at Kathmandu airport, working on clearing wreckage on their way. The teams then resumed their efforts in Pukhulacchi located near Kathmandu.

Thirty-eight people from AFAD and UMKE, four people from the Turkish Red Crescent, fifteen people from GEA Search and Rescue, thirteen people from IHH Search and Rescue, three people from Doctors Worldwide, twenty people from AKUT and eight people from SAR participated in the search and rescue efforts.

As a result of their search and rescue operations, AFAD teams pulled three dead bodies out of the rubble, whereas GEA recovered one injured person during the rescue efforts it conducted at eleven wreckage areas in the Sitapalia region.

Turkey, one of 22 countries participating in search and rescue efforts following the earthquake in Nepal, has also simultaneously conducted humanitarian aid work. AFAD of the Office of the Prime Minister has delivered 16 tons of humanitarian aid to people in Nepal in need of emergency assistance.

Furthermore, the Turkish Red Crescent initiated an aid campaign for earthquake victims in Nepal and sent 1,000 blankets and 320 packages of food to the region.

Moreover, various Turkish NGOs supported the process of healing the wounds of the people living in Nepal through the humanitarian aid that they provided.

Once UN sources indicated that the relief efforts of the search and rescue teams of national officials were sufficient and that no further teams were needed, the AFAD teams completed their work and returned home on May 2.