Cheadle-based specialist lender Together has given £20,000 to support efforts to rescue victims of the devastating Turkish and Syrian earthquake.
Thousands of people have died and thousands more – including a new born baby – have been pulled from the rubble of collapsed buildings almost a week since the disaster hit.
Rescuers are continuing their painstaking work, amid fears many more people, who have been left without shelter, water, fuel or electricity.
The funds donated by Together will go to the British Red Cross, part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The BRC will send the money to its sister charity the Turkish Red Crescent (TRC).
Kevin Fisher, people director at Together said: “We are shocked and saddened to see the news coming out of Turkey and Syria. Thousands have sadly lost their lives, and many more injured and found their homes and communities destroyed.
“Because of this, we have taken the decision to provide what aid we can to those affected. Our donation to the British Red Cross and its sister charities will help them in delivering first aid and assistance to those affected by this terrible disaster.
“Our thoughts are with those in the region struck by the earthquake.”
The TRC has already mobilised workers across the affected area, offering much needed aid to those in the region. In addition, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent is delivering assistance and support to those on the Syrian side of the border.
In both countries, they are helping injured people as well as carrying out a large-scale evacuation from the area, after the World Health Organisation raised major concerns there will be a secondary disaster which could harm more people than the initial quake.
Together’s employees will also have additional opportunities to support, switching some of the lender’s current charity fundraising activities to providing financial assistance to the BRC.
For more information on how to support the British Red Cross and its sister charities, visit https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/turkey-syria-earthquake-appeal
