Turkey-Syria earthquake: People in Wales send aid to loved ones after deadly tremor
Filiz Celik's parents still live in Turkey and she spoke to ITV Wales reporter Issa Farfour about how she is trying to help
A woman living in Swansea whose parents are in Turkey has joined those across Wales who are raising money and donating items to help following Monday's deadly earthquake.
Dr Filiz Celik told ITV News that thankfully her parents had survived, but the wait to hear from them was a "very unsettling" and "scary" experience.
She has now set up her own fundraising campaign to help those affected.
More than 16,000 people have died in Turkey and Syria and the death toll keeps rising.
On Thursday (9 February) the Disasters Emergency Committee launched their official fundraising appeal to help the thousands affected by the earthquake.
Ms Celik has launched a fundraising page online in the hope that friends, family and colleagues will donate.
Dr Filiz said: "I have members of family and friends in every single city that's been affected.
"It was a very unsettling, very worrying, very scary experience to wake up to that, not knowing and waiting to see if they were safe.
"It's an indescribably, complicated and painful feeling to have."
Dr Filiz added: "I spent that day [Monday] thinking about how I could be most useful and that evening I came up with the idea that grass root organisations are vital in providing immediate support.
"I thought I could collect some money from friends, colleagues and other people who want to support the survivors."
Huseyin Duyor, a cafe owner from Deeside, is taking supplies to Turkey and knows people caught up in the devastation.
He said: "I have a friend who used to work with us and his mum and dad, their building has gone down.
"They saved his mum yesterday but his dad is still underground."
Huseyin described it as "awful".
Huseyin Duyor, a cafe owner from Deeside, speaking to ITV Wales
An appeal to raise urgent funds for those affected by the earthquake has been launched outside the Senedd in Cardiff Bay.
The DEC was joined by members of Save the Children, the British Red Cross and other individuals on the steps of the Welsh Parliament.
Dr Harde Turkmen from Chwarae Teg was at the launch and she said raising money is important as it is the only thing people can do at the moment.
Dr Harde Turken commenting about how the weather is causing problems and impacting rescue efforts
Dr Turkmen said: "The weather is so cold now, people lost their homes and nobody can go into their homes.
"There's no food, there's no water, no proper sanitation, no shelter, heating.
"It's going to take a long time to recover from this earthquake."
As part of the appeal, the Welsh Government has announced £300,000 of financial support to provide emergency relief to people affected by the earthquake.
The Minister for Social Justice, Jane Hutt, said: "This is a deeply sad and devastating event, and my condolences are with those who have lost loved ones.
“My thoughts are also with the injured as well as Turkish and Syrian people in Wales waiting apprehensively for news. I’m grateful to people from all across Wales who are already offering all manner of support.
“The scale of destruction is vast, and I’d like to thank the brave search and rescue teams who continue to search through the rubble for survivors including firefighters from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, who are part of a team of 77 UK International Search and Rescue experts providing specialist skills and equipment to help locate and rescue survivors.
“With humanitarian need only expected to grow in Turkey and Syria, this financial support will go towards ensuring the urgent aid that people need to survive can be provided.”
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