Turkey earthquake: Jersey man travels to help his family

Cuma Dagilan has rented a van to provide food and other basic essentials to people in Turkey

A man who lost his aunt and cousin in the Turkish earthquake said survivors need urgent help.

Cuma Dagilan, who lives in Jersey, has travelled to Turkey to help his family and said many people there were living outside in freezing conditions.

It has been 10 days since earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria, with a death toll of more than 41,000.

Mr Dagilan said people were in desperate need of basic essentials such as food and warmth.

He added: "It's very cold, people here are very scared.

"They need real help. Honestly it's freezing cold here, it's freezing, it's freezing and people are really dying here."

Cuma Dagilan said although he had bought provisions, there were not enough supplies for everyone

Mr Dagilan said those in Pazarcik, Turkey, where his family are from, were living in very rough conditions.

"Here is really bad," he said.

"Where they are here, [it does] not have a toilet, [there] is no food, no electric and internet is not working all the time here.

"Children are very scared. All people is very, very scared. [It] is very hard to live here, especially young children, especially old people."

Cuma Dagilan has been caring for his nieces and nephews

Mr Dagilan said he had moved his family to a new city due to the living conditions in Pazarcik being "too dangerous".

He said the tents were "very small" and hosting about 10 to 15 people, and people were waiting for positive news.

"We are needing help here," he said. "We really, really need help."

Jersey Overseas Aid has donated £150,000 to help survivors of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, with funds going towards the The Red Cross and Crescent's Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal.

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