Thousands of items transported to Turkey but residents now urged to donate money to help international relief efforts

One of the lorries paid for by donations to the British Alevi Federation's earthquake appeal is loaded with donations before leaving Enfield — One of the lorries paid for by donations to the British Alevi Federation’s earthquake appeal is loaded with donations before leaving Enfield

Lorries full of blankets and warm clothes have arrived in earthquake affected regions in Turkey thanks to the generosity of Enfield residents.

Relief efforts have been going non-stop since the 7.8-magnitude quake hit one week ago, with Enfield’s large Turkish-speaking community rallying to the cause alongside those with no connection to the area. The death toll from the quake and its many aftershocks has now reached 35,000.

The British Alevi Federation (BAF), based at Enfield Alevi Cultural Centre in Great Cambridge Road, has been leading efforts locally to send help to survivors, who now face a struggle to stay warm with few buildings safely standing and little food available.

Using money raised last week in addition to thousands of donated items, BAF has been loading up lorries with goods to send to Turkey. Israfi Erbil, a BAF executive, said: “We have been able to load two trucks and a van – two have already arrived.

“We also arranged some charity collection boxes, with young members out on the streets.”

However, Enfield Council is warning residents against donating more items as local organisations are now struggling to cope with handling the logistics required and is urging people instead to donate money. BAF and other Turkish-affiliated groups are able to transfer money directly to organisations working on the ground in Turkey, while the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) is co-ordinating relief at an international level and has launched a major fundraising appeal.

Rescuers looking for survivors from a collapsed building in Turkey (credit VOA/Wikimedia Commons)

In a video message to local residents, deputy council leader Ergin Erbil said: “All our thoughts and prayers are with those affected, both in the region and those in the UK who have family and friends there.

“Enfield Council and local organisations have been inundated with donated items and support. Thank you to everyone who has contributed and worked so hard to get these items on their way to those in need. However, the best way you can now help is by making monetary donations so that organisations on the ground can immediately source what is most needed.”

Among those to have lost family members in the earthquake is former Enfield councillor Ali Bakır. Ali, who served as mayor of the borough in 2014/15, is originally from the city of Elbistan where around 80% of buildings have been destroyed by the earthquake. He told the Dispatch that aside from his parents being rescued by the doorman of their building, many of his relatives were missing and presumed dead.

Enfield Council has joined with local authorities in Hackney and Haringey – each with large Turkish-speaking populations – to co-ordinate local relief efforts. In a joint statement, Hackney mayor Philip Glanville, Haringey Council leader Peray Ahmet and Enfield Council leader Nesil Caliskan said: “Having spoken to our local communities with links to the earthquake areas in Turkey and Syria, we as council leaders from Enfield, Haringey and Hackney want to urge residents not to donate any more goods including blankets and clothes to the relief effort. This is because we are concerned about considerable logistical issues being created and worries that donations are not getting to the areas they’re intended for.

“Instead we are suggesting financial donations, big or small, should be sent to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC). The DEC are co-ordinating a range of UK charities’ aid efforts through an appeal for emergency relief efforts, including the British Red Cross.”

Donate to the DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal:
Visit dec.org.uk

Donate to the British Alevi Federation’s appeal using the following bank details:
Sort code 20-46-60
Account number 60570966
Reference ‘earthquake’

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