Turkey: Bolton woman raises money after deadly earthquake

Samara Yasmin often helps with fundraising scheme and set up a GoFundMe with her friend Elif Bilecan, 23, from London.

The friends are asking for people to donate as much as they can towards basic necessities.

Samara, from Halliwell, says she set the GoFundMe up with Elif – who she met at university after not seeing any set up at the time.

Samara, 24, said: “She found out from the local Turkish and Kurdish community that cargo was being sent out to Turkey from London.

“Some people may not be able to physically donate items so we set up the fundraiser, so we can buy any items to send.

“Their homes have been destroyed and everything is gone.

“It’s important we send as much as we can.”

Some donations the friends have already collected (Image: Public)

It comes as a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck on Monday, destroying wide areas of Turkey and Syria, killing 9,400 people, which authorities say is expected to rise.

Building collapses were reported in cities including Diyarbakir, Turkey, and Aleppo, Syria.

The earthquake was one of the biggest strike-slip earthquakes that has hit on land.

Elif’s family are from Pazarcik, which is at the epicentre of where one of the earthquakes hit.

Her family are currently sleeping in their car and don’t have anywhere to go.

She said: “They are stuck in one car and have no electricity, no gas, or heating.

“They can’t go back inside for food because there’s no house anymore.

“My family have been completely devastated by this.

“Families can’t leave because the roads are completely destroyed and their homes have completely collapsed, and they are out on the streets.”

The money from the GoFundMe will go towards winter clothes, baby food, blankets, period pads, nappies, coats, and medical supplies etc.

The supplies will then be delivered from cargo trucks across London, as well as charities to communities affected in South Turkey.

Aftermath of earthquake (Image: PA)

Elif added: “Imagine not being able to get in touch with your mum or dad and not knowing if they are safe or having family die in the rubble or living in fear that a building might collapse.

“That’s why we are asking for support from the UK because we are in a much better position than they are.”

The friends have already used £70 worth of donations to buy essential items that will be loaded on to cargo trucks, as well as £50 worth of donations.

To make a donation to the cause click here (www.gofundme.com/f/survival-essentials-for-earthquake-victims).

More than 30,000 people have been hurt, with rescue workers racing to pull survivors from the rubble in cities and towns across a wide area.

If you have a story and something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at jasmine.jackson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @JournoJasmine.