Turkey: Over 1,500 GOFUNDME Pages Opened For Earthquake Victims

The global fundraiser organisation, GOFUNDME, has said that more than 1,500 online fundraising pages have already been set up to help earthquake victims in both Turkey and Syria.

It added that more than £500,000 has been raised so far.

Two major earthquakes, measuring 7.8 and 7.5, hit the city of Gaziantep in southeastern Turkey on Monday.

The quakes affected a massive area including large cities where many people live and so far have killed 3,419 people, with another 20,534 injured and many people still missing in southeastern Turkey.

According to the Red Cross, the earthquakes have hit at least ten provinces in Turkey and in Syria including: Diyarbakir, Hama, Aleppo, Latakia and Tartous, among others.

The international vice president of the organisation, John Coventry, was quoted by Sky News to have said, “The crisis that is unfolding across the region is truly devastating, and we are seeing a large number of fundraising efforts.

“Our trust and safety is verifying those funds and will work with organisers and beneficiaries to get help to where it’s needed most as soon as possible.”

Some of the fundraisers include:

One set up by Ediz Karahasanoglu, which has raised more than £24,000 in 24 hours to help the people affected by the earthquake in Turkey. The funds raised are going to local and governmental organisations that are helping with the current rescue and aid efforts;

Another organised by Simon Harris which has raised more than £14,000 for the charity Save the Children, which is getting ready to help people on the ground.

An appeal was set up by Britain Alxas Community Centre, a London-based Turkish charity, to support people in the country.

Help The Victims of the Earthquake in Turkey created by one Mustafa Melik has raised €6,948 out of the €10,000 goal.

Another by Ali Efkan Kaya has raised £8,316 raised of the £15,000 goal.

Other international organisations such as the World Health Organisation, the International Red Cross Society, amongst others have also provided relief materials to the earthquake victims.