Emotional plea from Highland's Turkish community after deadly earthquakes
More than 20,000 people are known to have died following Monday's disaster in southern Turkey and northern Syria.
Last updated 10th Feb 2023
A group of Highland based Turkish business owners are urging the public to donate what they can to help those affected by recent devastating earthquakes.
More than 20,000 people are known to have died following Monday's earthquakes in southern Turkey and northern Syria.
The first earthquake recorded a magnitude of 7.8, with a second quake measuring at 7.5.
Rescuers continue to desperately try and save those buried under rubble, but hopes are fading.
A group in the Highlands are now planning on taking whatever donations they can get to Glasgow before being transported to Turkey.
"I feel horrible"
Mustafa Calisir, who owns the Aspendos Turkish restaurant in Inverness, is originally from the Southern city of Malatya.
He said: "My good friend, he's lost his son.
"He's still underneath the concreate of a nine floor hotel.
"I feel horrible, I feel so bad.
"The world is destroying everything, the nature is destroying everything.
"The babies, the children, the woman, they're screaming from underneath the concreate for someone to help.
"I can't go because I don't have anywhere to stay.
"I haven't slept over the last three days."
Previous experience of earthquake
Zaza Kaya, who owns Icon Turkish Barbers in Inverness, has been helping collect clothes and monetary donations to send to Turkey.
Originally from Adana in the South East of the country, Zaza says he felt guilty for others after hearing his loved ones were ok.
He said: "When you find out your family is good, you start to feel bad afterwards.
"You see the damage of the earthquake and see how the people, kids and families have died.
"It's really sad and heart-breaking.
"I've been in an earthquake before and I know what it feels like.
"When I close my eyes to sleep, I see all the houses, people, kids and families.
"They have no place to stay, most of them are staying in cars or their gardens."
"This is the least we can do"
Ismail Dogan, who is a Duty Manager for the Royal Highland Hotel, outlined how they are roughly 200 Turkish people currently living in the Highlands.
He said: "We all have loved ones over there or we know people over there.
"At the end of the day we are all effected because it is our home country and there is not much we can do.
"This is the least we can do."
"The conditions are unbearable at the moment.
"There's maybe about 15 million people outside at the moment.
"No shelter, no roof and no food, it's not easy at all.
"Anything will help. We are all human beings, we all have to help each other."
A donation drop off point for clothes, nappies, blankets and other basic essentials is available at the Aspendos Turkish Restaurant in Inverness.
Donations are also being collected at La Mirage in Helmsdale.