THE Turkish community in west Cumbria has been left shocked and anguished following the devastating earthquake near the Syrian border - which has so far claimed more than 37,000 lives.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake first struck the region on February 6, and was followed by more than 2,000 aftershocks.
Over the next few days, the colossal scale of the disaster became apparent.
Communities both side of the Turkey-Syria border have been destroyed. According to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), 17 million people live in the affected area, many of them in urgent need of shelter, food and medical aid.
One takeaway manager in Cleator Moor has been deeply affected by the impact of the earthquake. He has suffered personal losses from the tragedy that has unfolded over the past week.
Erol Caesar, of Kebab House, is now raising money to help those in need through online fundraising on the company's website and in-store donations from customers.
Mr Caesar said: "We are trying to help as much as we can. It is my family who is involved.
"My brother, Irma Caesar, has managed to survive but his house in the village is gone. But this at the moment this is only a small concern.
"My cousin is also in Turkey; his wife and kids have died as a result of the earthquake. A lot of people I know and my friends have also died.
"This is very, very bad. It is everywhere. So many cities have been affected.
"We are trying to raise money for our home town but also other places and we are working out where to get the money sent to, to help them.
"We wanted to help to send aid over such as food and blankets and we are grateful for the aid that so many other countries have sent to support Turkey and Syria.
"I'm not able to do too much from here but we are able to send money. The good thing is that people are helping."
Another Whitehaven business owner, Fingret Shimsheik, has family in the area, and his father's home has been destroyed.
Mr Shimsheik declined to speak to the Whitehaven News, but his friend and fellow Turk, Mert Kishkin, who owns and runs MK's Hair Studio on Lowther Street in Whitehaven, said it was good to see people in west Cumbria showing their support.
Mr Kishkin said: "I'm from Izmir in Turkey, the place that has been most badly affected by the earthquake isn't too close to where I am from - Turkey is a very big country.
"However, my friend, who also owns a business in Whitehaven, his father has been caught in the midst of the earthquake and his home has been completely destroyed.
"As far as I know the apartment where my friend's father lived has been demolished and his father is on the street right now.
"I'm pleased to see a Turkish restaurant called Aspava in Cockermouth helping to send money to those in need.
"This is a really bad thing and people are very scared right now - this is the first time something of this scale has affected our country."
Groups and organisations across the country are sending aid in support of those affected in Turkey and Syria.
In Cumbria the local Freemasons branch have offered thousands in financial aid.
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