On 6th February 2023, south-eastern Turkey and northern Syria were hit by the most powerful earthquake in the region for over 80 years. This was quickly followed by a further earthquake and hundreds of aftershocks.

While the situation is still developing, widespread destruction has been reported, and at the time of writing more than 35,000 people have lost their lives and this figure is likely to increase.

Delivering aid to Syria is complicated by attitudes to the Syrian regime, following the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011. In northwest Syria, opposition groups control many of the worst-affected regions, therefore, the UN, Turkey, local groups, and NGOs such as the White Helmets are expected to lead the response.

The local community here in Swindon has been pulling together following the devastating earthquakes, and I have been in close contact with the Wiltshire Turkish Community.

A collection point has been set up at the Wiltshire Turkish Community Centre, however, as you can imagine, details of the donations required, as well as deadlines for delivery, are constantly changing as transport is arranged. For anyone wanting to donate, we would urge you to check the up-to-date information regularly posted on the Wiltshire Turkish Community Facebook page WTurkishCommunity. I will also be sharing this information on my Facebook page robertbucklandofficial and website robertbuckland.co.uk/news

The UK has provided £8m in immediate assistance, including the deployment of search and rescue teams, and an additional £3.8m in funding to the Syrian White Helmets.

For any resident who would like to donate, the UK’s Disasters Emergency Committee has launched an emergency appeal which can be found here: donation.dec.org.uk/turkey-syria-earthquake-appeal.The UK Government will match up to £5min donations.

I will continue to work closely with the Wiltshire Turkish Community in Swindon and do all I can to support them with the relief effort.

You may have already read in my previous columns about my Local Business Support Campaign here in Swindon. I was very pleased to recently visit the new Florco Trade Centre and thank the team for opening their business on the Rushy Platt Industrial Estate, which will support local tradespeople.

It is great to see the business expand and choose Swindon as the destination to open their brand-new trade counter. I am delighted to see that Florco is supporting local independent businesses and contractors.

My charity of the week is The Kelly Foundation. Based at the Pinetrees Community Centre, established to help tackle mental health in the Swindon community for anyone over the age of 18.

One in four of us experience a mental health issue at some point in our lives, it could be bereavement, a divorce, losing a job, or another trauma that has impacted our mental health. Some of us suffer short term, and others may, unfortunately, suffer long term. Mental health doesn’t discriminate, it can happen to anyone.

This brilliant new charity will offer support, general advocacy, counselling, and life coaching, and act as a point of contact for those struggling with their mental health or needing assistance with getting their mental health assessed.

You can contact the Kelly Foundation by ringing 01793 200710 or by emailing info@4kelly.org

To find out more about how you can support this new charity, including becoming a friend, taking part in a fundraising challenge, or playing the Swindon lottery, please visit 4kelly.org/