By Charlotte Webster–
A Forest Gate charity has raised over £1 million for Turkish refugees who have fled the country following the recent earthquakes in the region.
Shakil Malji, chief executive of Abdullah Aid, who travelled to Turkish refugee camps in Syria on February for a week to hand out supplies, including food, blankets, hygiene equipment and clothing, has been credited for big heart and empathy in doing so The moving initiative was birthed by a well of empathy motivated by action.
Her community today described her a s a true gem for her moving compassion for the plight of The Turkish people.
Shakil told reporters she was deeply affected by the site in Turkey, because she saw dead bodies all over the place.:
Shakil said: ” you could see people trying to come out of the rubble because they’re stuck and then you’ve got family members on the other side of the streets waiting for their loved ones who are also trapped.
“It was at a point where more than anything people were looking for their family members.”
Abdullah Aid provides aid and relief to 25 countries across the world.
It was probably one of the worst disasters I’ve ever seen – this was really on another level, totally terrible.
“It was at a point where more than anything people were looking for their family members.”
Abdullah Aid provides aid and relief to 25 countries across the world.
“Seeing all the destruction in Turkey is devastating because you’ve got the smell of dead bodies and you’ve got kids crying, elders crying.”
The first two earthquakes struck southern Turkey and northern Syria on Monday, February 6, followed by a 6.4 magnitude earthquake in Turkey on Monday, February 20.
Over 44,000 people were killed by the first two earthquakes, according to Red Cross.
On Monday (yesterday) Greece reinforced its border controls along its land and sea frontier with Turkey amid expectations of a new wave of arrivals by people displaced in the earthquakes that have devastated south-east Turkey and northern Syria.
Hundreds of extra border guards began patrolling the Greek-Turkish land frontier in the Evros region at the weekend as contingency measures were stepped up to stave off the expected flows.
“The mass movement of millions of people is not a solution,” said Greece’s migration minister, Notis Mitarachi, emphasising the need for emergency aid to be sent to Turkey and Syria “before this happens”.
A number of those made homeless by the 6 February earthquakes, which has left more than 50,000 dead – are expected to start heading towards Europe in the spring if humanitarian assistance does not arrive.
The initiative to raise that amount for charity is highly commendable, and one likely to inspire other communities in similar situations in the future,
Shakil said:” ” you could see people trying to come out of the rubble because they’re stuck and then you’ve got family members on the other side of the streets waiting for their loved ones who are also trapped.
“It was at a point where more than anything people were looking for their family members.”
Abdullah Aid provides aid and relief to 25 countries across the world.
It was probably one of the worst disasters I’ve ever seen – this was really on another level, totally terrible.
Earthquakes are a tragic way in which many people are displaced from their homes.