A Turkish-born Ayr chippy boss is calling on communities across Ayrshire to help his hometown village which has been destroyed in the earthquakes disaster.
Two huge earthquakes hit Turkey, Syria and the surrounding region on February 6, with the death toll reaching 40,000 and climbing.
Widespread destruction has seen cities, towns and villages destroyed, leaving thousands in dire need of shelter, food and warmth.
Ayr’s Lucky Star chip shop owner Ali Cobanoglu is appealing to Ayrshire churches, businesses and residents to rally round to send funds to help his tiny village of Bozlar, where 13 have sadly lost their lives.
The remaining villagers - who have been faced with temperatures of minus nine degrees - are currently living together in one room in their local school as their houses have been reduced to rubble - including the home Ali was born in and where his step-brother Mehmet lives.
Mehmet managed to get to safety just seconds before watching his house collapse.
Ali said: “My step-brother says he had just grabbed his wife and got outside before the house collapsed.
“It was 4.16am, everybody was sleeping.
“The worst thing was for three or four days we couldn’t get in touch with anybody because electricity was cut off.
“I’ve got a brother in the capital Ankara who was trying to get the Bozlar and got there three days later because all the roads were cracked.”
Ali, who visits Turkey and his home village every year, is desperate to help in any way he can.
He has already given his summer house in Mersin, on the south coast of Turkey, to a family in need.
“This is a really sad situation just now," he said.
“I’ve not seen anything like this before, especially in my area where I grew up and visit every year.
“I bought a house in Mersin before the pandemic and I’ve given it as a safe place to a family so they can live there.
"This is what I can do to help. If anyone from Ayrshire wants to help, they can email me and we can work together.
“It could happen to anybody in the world - this is an earthquake, it’s not a war or anything else.
“I can personally go out to Turkey and see what’s needed and then get it.
“I don’t have a charity number but I have the contacts to know it will go direct to help.
“The political situation in Turkey is really bad. We don’t know if the fundraising money is actually going to organisations or to the government.
“We want to make sure the money is going to the right place, directly to the area."
Ali says that “even a penny will help” as he appeals to his community to give what they can.
He said: “I’ve been in Scotland 35 years now but I never lost my contact with my village. I have lots of happy memories there.
“I need to go and see my village. All the houses have been destroyed. I don’t know how we’re going to rebuilt it again.”
Ali will soon have a collection tin in his chippy, on George Street, to help raise as much cash as he can to send to those in need.
Anyone looking to get involved and help can email Ali at: coban172001@hotmail.co.uk
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