Local generosity encouraged to support Turkey and Syria

Carla Lockhart MP • February 21, 2023

Local MP Carla Lockhart has encouraged people across Upper Bann to support humanitarian charities and local fundraising efforts to support those impacted by the devastation in Turkey and Syria following the recent earthquake. The DUP MP met with Ibrahim Kaplan, who owns a business and lives in Portadown and has done for the last 22 years, and who is raising money for his homeland of Turkey.

Carla Lockhart said:

“It was deeply moving to meet with Ibrahim and to hear from him the stories of utter devastation he has heard from people in his homeland of Turkey. Whilst we can all watch the images on our televisions, to hear from Ibrahim some personal accounts of the damage and destruction caused made it very real.

Thousands of lives have been lost, and for survivors of the quake the outlook for the future is so bleak. They have lost everything, and the humanitarian effort to provide support is key to their futures.

Obviously we have long established organisation raising funds such as the Red Cross, Christian Aid, Unicef, but Ibrahim is also fundraising through GoFundMe. A link to his page can be found on my Facebook. Whilst I know households here are facing financial pressures, I know any sum given will help make a difference to those who have been left with nothing.

I commend Ibrahim, and assure him of the support of the local community.”

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