A barber from Witney has rushed to London to pool cash to fund a flight to help family members injured and homeless following the Turkish earthquake disaster.

Two huge earthquakes and a series of aftershocks hit Turkey, Syria and the surrounding region.

According to the latest figures, more than 11,000 people have been killed and there is widespread destruction.

Mehmet Aksahin, manager of Cousinz barber shop in Witney, has family in the Turkish city of Gaziantep, a provincial capital about 20 miles from the epicentre of the first earthquake.

It was registered as 7.8, classified as "major" on the official magnitude scale when it struck in the early hours of February 6.

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Today he is in London gathering with family to pool their resources to pay for someone to fly out to Turkey tonight and help their relatives.

He said: “My grandfather has damaged his head. My wife has lost her cousin and kids. They live in Gaziantep in the south east."

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Residents of the city, which is home to 2million people, are taking refuge in shopping malls, stadiums, mosques and community centres.

Mr Aksahin said: “We have been watching the TV. My wife is very upset. Everyone is outside and it’s freezing cold. It's been snowing and it's raining. It’s really bad out there.

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“We’re meeting up together in London to give someone cash to go tonight to help our family.”

He said Cousinz, a family run chain of barbers shops in Witney and Carterton, would be involved in collections and seeking donations in the coming days.

Another barber at the Witney shop said: "My family is a bit further away and we did manage to speak to them.

"It's terrible. It's really sad. Some of us here had family near the place. The Turkish community will be coming together now."

In Turkey, more than 8,500 people are confirmed to have died, with tens of thousands injured and thousands of buildings destroyed.

Oxford City Council has expressed its sympathy with the Turkish and Syrian communities and said special prayers will be said on Friday and over the weekend.

In a joint statement Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council, and Councillor Shaista Aziz, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Communities, said: "On behalf of everyone in the City Council and in Oxford, we want to express our shock and sorrow for the devastating earthquake in Türkiye and Syria.

"Our thoughts are with the Turkish and Syrian people and all those delivering the emergency response.

 “Our thoughts are also with the Turkish and Syrian communities in Oxford, who will be anxious about their family, friends and compatriots.

"This Friday and over the weekend, communities directly impacted by the disaster and wider Oxford communities are organising special prayers for all those affected by this horrific event.

 “In the coming days and weeks aid organisations will be asking for our support, the following organisations are already providing frontline relief: The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC); MSF UK; Oxfam; The White Helmets; International Rescue Committee.” 

 

 

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This story was written by Miranda Norris, she joined the team in 2021 and covers news across Oxfordshire as well as news from Witney.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Miranda.Norris@newsquest.co.uk. Or find her on Twitter: @Mirandajnorris

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