The Turkish community in Newcastle has banded together to collect donations, both monetary and physical, to go towards the Turkey earthquake appeal.
They have raised over £75,000 in just one week, with a target of £100,000, as well as clothes, sanitary products, food, tents and other essential items.
The money will be sent directly to the charity AFAD's Earthquake Humanitarian Aid Campaign, that aims to meet the urgent needs of citizens in the disaster, working alongside the government and other charities.
The physical donations will be sent down to Manchester Airport, as this is a joint effort with the Turkish embassy in the North West city. It will then be flowing via cargo plane to South East Turkey and given to those who need it most.
The donations will not just be given to citizens caught in the earthquake, but also to those working on the ground right now trying to save as many lives as they possibly can. Any items that cannot be sent to Turkey will go to Syria, who are also struggling after the incidents.
This catastrophic event has taken the lives of over 35,400 people in Turkey, as well as 5,800 in Syria. It is becoming increasingly clear just how desperate the situation is and this kind of aid is so important to people who are suffering.
Elif Gulmen, 26, who has volunteered to help with donations, has spoken about the work she and the other volunteers have done, as well as sharing her thanks at the generosity of the people in Newcastle.
"It's been an overwhelming past week. Me and all the other volunteers have been working, day and night packing over a 1000 boxes of sanitary products, food, clothes and equipment for those suffering in Turkey.
"We would like to thank everyone who has donated and volunteered, this amazing result would have not happened if it wasn't for everyone being involved", she said.
Another volunteer, Mustafa Bober, 25, has described his shock at the events of the past week, and how he has felt whilst trying to help in any way that he can.
"I was trying to help out the best as I can. I felt I had a responsibility to help. I can't find words to explain what has happened, I'm speechless, I've never seen something like this before, it's the worst thing I've seen in my life", he said.
Izzet Zengin, 54, director of the Turkish community charity has also shared his thoughts on the events and the amount of donations that they have received.
“I pray we never have to experience such an event again.
“Over the past week I’ve had a mixture of emotions. Their life and even ours changed in one night.
“As a committee we worked hard and each put separate efforts into making these donations possible. I put the donation posters all around my restaurant (Lezzet) and received a great response from almost every customer."
If you would like to donate, details of how to help can be found on the Newcastle Turkish Centre Facebook page here
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