Stirling’s MSP has urged local residents to support relief efforts in Turkey and Syria after last week’s devastating earthquakes left more than 37,000 dead and a further 95,000 injured.
Evelyn Tweed is encouraging people to donate what the can to the aid effort.
A series of devastating tremors – measuring as high as a magnitude 7.8 – hit southern Turkey and north-west Syria last Monday.
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) brings together 15 leading UK charities at times of crisis overseas to raise funds quickly and efficiently.
Members include six agencies active in Scotland, namely Islamic Relief Scotland, Oxfam Scotland, the British Red Cross, Tearfund, Save the Children and Christian Aid Scotland.
DEC charities and their local partners are among the first responders on the ground, working with locally-led relief efforts. The immediate focus of the relief effort is to save lives and help people who have been injured or lost their homes by providing medical care, temporary shelter and blankets.
Commenting, Ms Tweed said: “The news from Turkey and Syria is devastating. I commend the efforts being made by so many to undertake rescue operations and send my condolences to those who have lost loved ones.
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“I would encourage anyone who is able to donate to the DEC appeal. The DEC work with local partners and can use funds effectively to provide relief. The sheer scale of this disaster means that thousands of people need help now.
“The response within the first 24 hours was overwhelming with £32.9million raised. I want to thank those across Stirling who have donated to the appeal so far and encourage others to do likewise.”
In Stirling, a donation station has been set up at a city dessert shop. The My Dessert House in Upper Craigs has become the hub for all Stirling-based aid donations – with friends of the firm offering up their business unit a few doors down to store and process donated items.
Stirling MP Alyn Smith added: “The devastation across the region as a result of these earthquakes is truly staggering – communities have lost everything. As temperatures plummet, aid materials and assistance are in short supply and high demand. I commend Ahsan, of My Dessert House, and his volunteer team for quickly organising our local Stirling response, feeding into wider Scottish efforts.
“The people of Stirling never fail to come together in a crisis - so much so that clothing donations are discouraged at the moment due to oversupply. Camping supplies would be very much welcomed for the cold weather. Working in partnership with UK and European allies, Scotland stands ready to play our part in keeping people safe and helping to rebuild.”
Last week, we told how a Turkish man living in Stirling spoke of his anguish as the search continued for over 70 members of his family missing following the massive earthquake.
Ekrem Ozturk said he fears for his family’s safety, after many of them saw all of their possessions and homes destroyed in the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria.
Ekrem, a painter and decorator, says that the tremor saw his family’s home destroyed and more than 70 members of his extended family remain unaccounted for.
Ekrem lives in Buchlyvie with his wife Stacey and their four sons. They moved to the area in 2009 for the birth of their first son.
Originally from Adiyaman – a city in southeastern Turkey – Ekrem grew up in Adana. Speaking to the Observer last week, he said: “The majority of my family live in Kahta Adiyaman. We just visited our village in October with my sons.
“My parents and siblings live in Adana, but we have a village of Ozturks with our cousins and aunts uncles etc. My parents and family in Adana are all safe but have lost their homes. The only building that is safe is my dad’s house but with further risks of more shocks, they are all outside. My family in the village are in tents. They have no water, electricity, food and it’s temperatures of -6 to -10C.”
Family members have enlisted themselves in the frantic mission to rescue survivors. Ekrem added: “My brother-in-law and my nephew have been digging for days with their bare hands to free loved ones.
“Sadly we have not been able to reach about 70 plus family members that are still stuck in the wreckage and as time passes all we have is hope.”
To donate to the relief effort, go to www.dec.org.uk, call 0370 60 60 610 or text SUPPORT to 70787 to donate £10.
