We are heartbroken by the devastating recent earthquakes in southern Turkey and northwest Syria. This area is home to millions of highly vulnerable Syrian refugees and displaced people, including family and friends of people we work with here in Suffolk. Our thoughts are with all our Syrian, Kurdish and Turkish friends, the White Helmets emergency response teams working in such dire conditions, and all those affected by this terrible tragedy.
You can read the heartfelt thoughts here of Amer, a Syrian refugee we work with in Ipswich who used to volunteer with the White Helmets emergency response teams, and whose colleagues are still desperately trying to save lives after the earthquake, and you can listen to him on BBC Radio Suffolk here (from 03:08:15 in). You can also hear us discussing the dreadful humanitarian situation here (from 03:09:10 in).
We were pleased to stand alongside members of the local Syrian, Turkish and Kurdish communities, the Mayor of Ipswich and faith leaders at a recent vigil in Ipswich in solidarity with the victims of the recent earthquakes in Syria and Turkey. We will continue to support refugees in Suffolk affected by the terrible events in any way we can.
