Mosque in Hamilton taking donations for Turkey earthquake victims

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Published February 9, 2023 at 2:45 pm

A Hamilton house of worship is gathering donations for an airlift of earthquake relief supplies to southwestern Turkey, where the equivalent of a small city have been injured and unhoused.

The Hamilton Mountain Mosque, located at 1545 Stone Church Rd. E., will be gathering new and gently used winter clothing, non-perishable Halal food, toiletries and other supplies that Turkish Airlines plans to deliver to survivors who have been left without a roof over their heads in the middle of the winter. The last day to drop off at front entrance of the mosque is on Feb. 17, a week from Friday. An itemized list was posted on social media by Fariha Ali, who is a program manager at YWCA Hamilton.

Winter clothing for adults and children includes:

  • Jackets
  • Boots
  • Raincoats
  • Sweaters
  • Pants
  • Shirts
  • Gloves / mittens
  • Socks and underwear (new only)

Toiletries, which must be new only, include:

  • Deodorant
  • Diapers
  • Toothbrushes
  • Toothpaste
  • Sanitary napkins
  • Soap

Other supplies include:

  • New blankets
  • Flashlights (without batteries)
  • Thermos
  • Canned food (Halal)

At last report, the confirmed death toll in Turkey and neighbouring Syria from the two major earthquakes on Monday is over 19,000. Canada has sent a disaster assessment team to the region to determine what additional aid the nation needs to offer.

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser also said on Thursday that Canada may fast-track applications from people in the earthquake zones of Turkey and Syria.

Sam Adekugbe, one of the members of Canada’s men’s soccer team who played in the World Cup last fall, was caught in the quake in Antakya, Turkey, where he plays for the Hatayspor club. He was able to drive to the team’s training complex, and is now 1,100 km away in Istanbul, staying with Canada captain Atiba Hutchinson.

“Roads split. Bridges broken. Twelve-storey highrises just completely collapsed. Families looking for loved ones. Parents looking for their kids. Kids looking for their parents. It was just something unfathomable. Something you never really expect,” Adekugbe told The Canadian Press in an interview conducted over Zoom on Wednesday.

— with files from The Canadian Press

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