A rallying cry has gone around our town in the wake of the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria with those organising aid urging others to help those who have survived.
Members of the Turkish, Kurdish and Syrian communities in Ipswich are working to support families and friends of the victims to deliver much-needed support.
Some Suffolk families have seen up to 11 of their loved ones killed in the earthquake.
Thousands have been confirmed to have died in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit on Monday.
Ayhan Yazici, one of the organisers of the Turkey - Syria appeal, said: “One person from Ipswich lost 11 members of his family in this earthquake.
“There is also a guy who used to work for us and his wife’s whole family died in an apartment, her four siblings, mum and dad.
“They went back to Turkey to just really do the funerals. They can’t do anything else.
“Families of people who live in Ipswich have been severely affected by the earthquake and need our help.
“We are collecting general hygiene products and clothes, as well as encouraging everybody to donate to well-known charities that will deliver help to people in need.”
The Turkish, Kurdish and Syrian communities gathered to help and donate to oragnisations that help the survivors.
They are encouraging anyone to donate coats, children clothing, jogging bottoms, winter hats, nappies and wet wipes, hygiene kits, torches and power banks.
The donations will be collected at Bella Napoli in Queen Street and Café Marina in University Avenue.
Mr Yazici added: “Turkey has declared a Level 4 alert and issued an international call for help.
“Local and international rescue teams are on the ground, but more assistance is needed.
"We have compiled a list of official sources for donations if you wish to help or spread the word.”
Donations to organisations that help the survivors can be made online:
Ahbap- Turkey’s biggest charitable organisation who is at the scene right now- donate here
British Red Cross- donare here
Oxfam- donate here
Ipswich Mosque- donate here (please make a note on the donation that it is for the Turkey/Syria appeal)
There are also a few other collection points for the earthquake survivors across Suffolk, including Town Hall and St Mary’s House in Woodbridge, as well as Blue and Berry café in Felixstowe.
The 7.8 magnitude quake hit Turkish city Gaziantep in the early hours of Monday, reducing thousands of homes and buildings across the south of the country and northern Syria to rubble as people slept.
Search and rescue operations have been underway since Monday as the number of deaths continue to rise.
Three British nationals are still missing after the huge earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
It comes as UK aid charities say reports of the devastation are just the “tip of the iceberg”.
Difficult conditions, including freezing temperatures, are hampering efforts, particularly in rebel-held Syria, where people have fewer resources and there is a lack of routes to deliver aid through.
The team, made up of firefighters and staff from 14 fire and rescue services from across the country, will cut their way into buildings and help locate survivors in the rubble of the earthquakes.
Their specialist equipment includes seismic listening devices, concrete cutting and breaking equipment and propping and shoring tools.
An emergency medical team was also on the flight and will conduct a full assessment of the situation on the ground.
PM Rishi Sunak “pledged the UK’s steadfast support” to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a phone call on Tuesday afternoon, Downing Street said: “He expressed his deep condolences for the tragic loss of life and pledged the UK’s steadfast support.”
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