Young people in Bristol have banded together and raised a total of £6,427.50 for earthquake survivors in Syria and Turkey. The combined death toll of the two earthquakes which hit the south of Turkey and northern Syria on February 6 has now risen to over 50,000.
Bristol Youth Empowerment (BYE), a group of volunteers in their late teens and early 20s, raised the money by holding an auction and selling cakes and sweet treats. They are donating the money to Human Concern who are working on the ground in Turkey and Syria.
BYE, who had previously raised £70,000 for flood victims in Pakistan, describe themselves as a ‘handful of youths’ who collectively decided to come together and make a difference in the local and wider community. The group felt it particularly important to raise money for a charity which has also been working in Syria, a country which due to a decade long civil war and sanctions from the UK, US and EU, aid workers have not been able to enter the country so easily.
READ MORE: Bristol family man who died in M25 crash ‘touched so many lives’
BYE organiser Hanin Aidy, 21, said: “As devastating as the tragedies were in the Turkey and Syria earthquake, the beautiful reaction we saw was a significant amount of aid sent to those affected in Turkey by countries all over the world and thousands of individuals. However due to EU and US sanctions placed upon Syria, it saddens me that they have been unable to taste any potential hope, we want to help those who are struggling to get a glimpse of prosperity in the future.”
Amira Alsayed, 20, helped organise the fundraiser and is also concerned for those in Syria. She said: “It was absolutely devastating for people in Syria to hear their family members calling out for help from underneath the rubble and not being able to rescue them due to the lack of equipment.
“We just have to help those who survived the disaster to continue living and healing from this traumatic experience. Whether that was losing family members, houses or their source of [income]. Those who are suffering severe injuries are waiting for our help too.”
Armaan Akhtar, 24, felt it was important to help but also to “show the world that we have not forgotten about them.” The money raised will be used to provide meals, water, blankets and clothes.
Subhaan Ali Tahir, 19, who organised the event alongside other volunteers, said it was ‘amazing’ to see the hard work put in by those who volunteered their time to raise the money and organise the event. He said: “The purpose of doing events like this is to bring the community together and spread awareness of what is going on in the world.
"It also shows how far and how much we can help by coming together. We aim to continue working hard and helping those in need.”
BYE would like to thank all the volunteers and Gloucestershire Cricket Club for hosting the fundraising event which took place on February 26. Human Concern International is a Canadian charity currently working in various countries facing crisis, including Syria and Turkey following the recent earthquakes.
READ NEXT:
Bristol group working to inspire young people in 'deprived and polluted' neighbourhoods
Meet the Bristol 'peacekeepers' who patrol the streets in hi-vis
Cafe owner says friend in Turkey has lost count of bodies he's carried since earthquake
Bristol mosques unite to help earthquake survivors in Turkey and Syria
South Gloucestershire Council voter ID row over 'rushed and ill-conceived' new law
