This disastrous event has taken the lives of more than 35,400 Turkish citizens, as well as over 5,800 in Syria.
Turkish associations across the city have been working together to raise funds and provide support for victims, including students from Newcastle University’s Turkish Society.
The Turkish Society has organised two fundraisers so far, the first being a collection for donations outside the Students' Union, and the second being a bake sale last Monday. Their first event raised more than £1000 for victims of the earthquake, with a representative of the society telling The Courier that students were “quite generous” with their support.
They were also grateful for the amount of support they received at their bake sale, and are aiming to hold more of these events in the near future.
However, they were also keen to establish that financial aid is not the only support needed, particularly when it comes to students with families in Turkey and Syria.
The Society representative stated that after the earthquake “Our priority was the well-being of Turkish students so we immediately contacted [the university] and asked for their help for the well-being of students”. They also “gathered after the events and shared [their] feelings” about what was happening, providing a support network for Turkish students in this difficult time.
Alongside their focus on financial and emotional support, Newcastle students are involved in direct aid to the victims. Huseyun Ayan, President of the Turkish society, was in Turkey when the earthquake occurred and is currently assisting with support for victims in the field.
With many different types of support on offer, the society told The Courier that they “are doing as much as we can both to help survivors and help ourselves”.
All of the fundraising which has occurred on campus has been part of a wider effort by the Turkish Community Association in Newcastle. This is a group formed of smaller local Turkish organisations and fundraising experts, who have come together to provide collective support.
The association has been organising and collecting donations, of both money and physical items. According to The Chronicle, they have raised over £75,000 over the past week across various collection points in the city. Posters can be seen all around the city centre urging people to donate, created by the Turkish Community Association and the Kotku Mosque, located on Grainger Park Road.
As well as this, the group has put together more than 1000 boxes of food, clothing and sanitary items to send to Turkey - which will go not only to those displaced by the earthquake but also to assist all the volunteers saving lives. These physical donations were taken to Manchester airport, as part of a national effort flying supplies to Turkey.
Whilst there have been huge national efforts to help those in Turkey and Syria, there are also many people here in Newcastle who have been affected by this tragedy. Alongside the support offered by Newcastle’s Turkish society, the University themselves have offered support to students affected by the earthquake.
In a release from their Press Office, Newcastle University stated that “As is our normal procedure, our Student Health and Wellbeing team and People Services have already written out to all colleagues and students where our records show they have family or close links to Turkiye and Syria”.
Alongside this, the University is offering Financial and wellbeing support to students in need, as well as support for employees with families in the region.
The Students' Union can also offer support from their Wellbeing and Support Centre, found on the ground floor of the SU building.
It’s clear that this terrible earthquake has had a severe impact on many Newcastle students. However, support is being offered both by the University and the Turkish society, who will be continuing to fundraise for victims for the foreseeable future.
Well done Scarlett