Turkey-Syria earthquake: People rally to help survivors

A collection is under way at Meyrick Park Cafe in Bournemouth

Several residents have brought donations to Meyrick Park Cafe in Bournemouth

Communities from across the south of England are rallying together to offer help to those affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

More than 5,000 people have been killed in the 7.8 magnitude quake that hit both countries on Monday.

Donations and help are being sent by groups in Dorset and Berkshire.

Nine firefighters from the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service have also been deployed to Turkey.

Mel Bulbul is one of the residents donating at the Meyrick Park Cafe in Bournemouth

Resident Mel Bulbul is one of the many who turned up at Meyrick Park Cafe in Bournemouth on Tuesday morning

A collection is under way at Meyrick Park Cafe in Bournemouth.

Residents have been asked to donate blankets, food, sanitary products and clothes for people of all ages.

All items will be collected by 15:00 GMT on Tuesday before being transported to Turkey on a cargo flight.

Elsewhere in Dorset, Sherborne Abbey Primary School will run a non-uniform day on Friday, asking each child to donate 50p.

people at Meyrick Park Cafe in Bournemouth

The collection in Bournemouth will end on Tuesday afternoon

The funds raised will be sent to the Red Cross to support those affected by the earthquake.

International NGO Khalsa Aid, which has an office in Slough, Berkshire, has confirmed it will be dispatching a team from the UK and one from Iraq to help provide food and water.

Several UK charities, such as Oxfam and Disasters Emergency Committee, have also launched appeals.

The quake struck at 04:17 (01:17 GMT) on Monday at a depth of 17.9km (11 miles) near the city of Gaziantep, according to the US Geological Survey.

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source: yahoo.com