Members of a Syrian family living in Northern Ireland are mourning the loss of over 20 members of their family in the Turkey earthquake.
Mohamed Salaho, 18, his parents, Amal Jerad, 55, and Thaer, 57, and sister Baraa, 20, have been watching the events unfold over recent days from their home in Dunmurry.
The family, who are originally from Idlib in northwestern Syria but have lived here for the past six years, are now trying to process what has happened to their loved ones.
Read more: Bangor's K9 Search and Rescue to aid Turkey-Syria earthquake rescue efforts
More than 22,000 people are now known to have died after Monday's 7.8-magnitude earthquakes in southern Turkey and northern Syria.
Tens of thousands were also injured and even though experts say people could survive for a week or more, the chances of finding survivors in the freezing temperatures are dimming.
Mohamed told Belfast Live: "My mum has basically lost her entire family including all of her five sisters and four brothers - some in Turkey and others in Syria. They are all confirmed dead but they have left their children behind.
"Some of these 10 children who survived are aged between just a few months old and seven years old. Now they have no one and are on the street. They are sleeping outside because all the shelters are full.
"We had a phone call from one of these kids who told us 'you are our last hope in life, we lost our parents and we have no home to stay in, no food, no milk for the babys'."
He added: "I wanted to go out there as soon as I heard what had happened to get the kids but I don't have a passport at the moment.
"Now we are praying if we just could get the kids to Northern Ireland so we can take care of them if it's possible or they are going to die while no one else is looking after them."
Mohamed's father has also lost loved ones in the disaster.
"My dad has also lost a few of his brothers and sisters. He was on the phone with one of his sisters while she was under the rubble. They managed to get her out but the building exploded and we lost contact with her.
"It's very hard to get in contact with people there at the moment but every few hours my friends are sending me videos and voice messages to tell us what's happening."
He added: "My mum walks around the house now shaking her head. When she first learned what happened, she went outside and started screaming and all the neighbours went outdoors to see what had happened.
"We had to take her phone off her to stop her looking at all the buildings and just try to keep her calm. She used to work in a hospital as a medical consultant back in Syria and we have been through ten years of war so we are used to seeing dead people every single day.
"Back in Syria she was a very strong woman but now she has lost her faith in life."
NI Hyatt, a social enterprise group which supports Northern Ireland’s migrant community, is now fundraising to help those living here who have lost relatives or are worried about their loved ones. For those wishing to donate, they can do so here.
Meanwhile, the people of Northern Ireland have rallied around in a generous show of support for the Disasters Emergency Committee’s (DEC) Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal, raising over half a million pounds in the first day.
The funds will provide urgent relief for people affected by the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
In Northern Ireland, local charities Concern Worldwide, the British Red Cross, Save the Children and Tearfund are asking people to support the DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal.
Lois Bailie, NI Acting Director at Tearfund, said: “We are completely overwhelmed by the response of the Northern Irish people to this appeal. Especially at a time in which many of us are struggling with the cost of living crisis, once again people have risen to the challenge helping those who are dealing with the devastation.
“As the situation in Turkey-Syria develops we still urgently need your support to get aid to those who need it most. We ask that you continue to support the DEC appeal as needs develop.”
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