Mosque gives Turkey earthquake aid one year on

Trustees from a mosque are providing aid in Turkey one year after a devastating earthquake hit the country.

Banbury Madni mosque in Oxfordshire has been involved in assisting communities affected by the disaster on 6 February 2023.

It has raised approximately £35,000, which is being used to serve meals and give monetary aid in more remote regions of Turkey.

Abu Hassan Hanif, chairman of the mosque, said: "We can't do so much that we're going to change lives overnight, but we're trying to do whatever we can."

Donations came from people in and around Banbury and were collected by the mosque.

The trustees had initially travelled to Turkey last year to offer support after the devastation.

This year, they said they returned at their own cost to work on the ground, ensuring that donations reached some of the most affected areas.

Almost 60,000 people died across southern Turkey and northern Syria when the earthquakes struck. Many were injured and displaced as thousands of buildings either totally or partially collapsed.

Mr Hanif said: "Even now, when I look around I see hundreds of tents here. Many people are still living in tents."

Meals and cash donations are just two ways that they are helping the community.

The donations will help them to "buy what they need most", Mr Hanif said.

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