‘Love Island’s Ekin-Su is amongst the high-profile figures backing the efforts on the ground.
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Love Island’s Ekin-Su is amongst the high-profile figures backing the efforts.
On February 6, a devastating earthquake struck central and south-east Turkey (also known as Türkiye by the United Nations) and northern Syria. The death toll for the deadly earthquake and aftershocks currently stands at 11,700, with rescue and aid efforts ongoing in both regions amid treacherously cold weather conditions, and anger mounting over a slow official response to the disaster, as per The Guardian. Nearly 300,000 people have been left homeless in Syria, while an estimated 13.5 million people in Turkey have been affected by the disaster.
Love Island’s Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu, who previously lived in Istanbul and has friends and family in the affected regions in Turkey, was among the high-profile voices urging people to help victims of the tragedy. The reality star says that members of her family have been caught up in the earthquake and are currently sleeping outside.
“A little bit of anyone’s help would be great because we need people to save those people that are buried under the ground,” she told Sky News, adding that she would like to volunteer on the ground to help those impacted. “Yes — as soon as the opportunity is given to me I’m there,” she said. “Obviously it is my home, it is my second language. Anything I can do, I’m there to support anyone.”
As temperatures plummet in the affected regions, those impacted by the disaster are in urgent need of food, water, warm clothes, and safe places to shelter.