Individuals and groups in several European countries are holding rallies in support of Turkey following Monday’s devastating earthquakes.
In Greece, PAME, one of the largest unions, has launched a nationwide campaign to collect essentials, including blankets, milk powder, diapers and other personal care items.
The Muslim Turkish minority, which is concentrated in the West Thrace region of Greece, has also mobilized for relief efforts. Municipalities, religious authorities and other groups in the region are collecting donations.
In Italy, NGOs including Caritas Italiana, Amici de Bambini (Children’s Friend) and Specchio D’Italia (Mirror of Italy) have launched fundraising campaigns for people affected by earthquakes.
In Bulgaria, the highest religious body of the Turkish-Muslim population of the country has launched a campaign to eliminate the consequences of the earthquake, according to the news outlet Kırcaali Haber.
In Romania, the country’s main Turkish-Tatar minority news outlets, including Hayat and Gazete Balkan, are calling on community members to coordinate relief efforts with the Turkish-Romanian Businessmen’s Association.
In the UK, the tabloid daily The Sun has launched “The Sun Earthquake Appeal” to help with disaster relief in Turkey. According to the publisher, readers of the paper can donate £5 by sending a text message and all proceeds will be donated to the British Red Cross for a major mobilization on the ground. Donations will be transferred to authorized institutions to carry out search and rescue operations and provide victims with housing, food and heating.
At least 4,544 people were killed and more than 26,721 injured in 10 provinces of Turkey as a result of two strong earthquakes that hit the southern regions of the country on Monday.
According to the latest official figures, more than 8,000 people have been rescued from the rubble of thousands of destroyed buildings, while more than 24,000 people continue to participate in search and rescue operations.
