Turkish Speaking communities across the country have rallied over the last week, collecting donations and essentials to send to those affected by the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
So far over 35,000 lives have been lost from the deadly quakes, some 80,000 people are being treated in hospitals and over 1 million people are homeless now in temporary shelters.
Thousands of the members of the Turkish Speaking communities originate from the regions hit by the quakes and have sadly lost family members and friends. Many of them have struggled to reach some form of contact with loved ones and those that have now trying to get help for them.
During the last week, dozens of community groups, businesses and thousands of community members have been working to aid the affected regions. Working into the early hours sorting through donations and packaging them for lorry and cargo flights scheduled to travel to Turkey.
Overwhelmed by the support of the community as well as the wider community who have reached out to show their support, many of the drop-off points had to stop taking in donations across the country, as they were unable to deal with the number of items being donated.
Receiving hundreds of calls daily from people wanting to help over the last week tens of thousands of packages have been sent, containing items such as coats, shoes, blankets, nappies and many more.
Community groups have now turned to collecting donations, sending money directly to turkey where food, water, heaters and essential items now needed like tents and medical aid can be given to those in need.
Turkish Schools weekend push
On Saturday Turkish Schools across the capital packaged up boxes which were loaded into a lorry en-route to Turkey. Members of the Polish Lewsihsm community were at Dr Fazıl Küçük Turkish School to help.
Dr Fazıl Küçük Turkish School
Donation Boxes across the UK
From London where Day-Mer youth collected donations to Edinburgh where members of the Turkish community have been asking for anything members of the public can spare for those affected.
Edinburgh
Day-Mer Youth
Cargo warehouse filled
Turkish Cargo companies in North London have seen hundreds of people gathered late into the night to help pack donations which have been sent to boxes filled in their warehouses.
CML Cargo
ABS Cargo
London Express Cargo
Community groups across the UK
Turkish community groups across the UK have been working throughout the week and getting pallets ready for transport.
Nottingham Turkish Community
Newcastle Turkish Community Centre
Bristol Turkish Community
TWPA- North London
West London Turkish Community Centre
