The world must consider the survivors while mourning the dead, according to a bar owner who lost more than half of his extended family in the earthquakes in Turkey.
Along with many of his relatives, Seyhmus Ozdemir's youngest brother also passed away.
After the earthquakes that occurred in Turkey and Syria on Monday, it is known that more than 22,000 people perished.
Sutton Coldfield resident Mr. Ozdemir is collecting warm clothing and cash for those in need.
He claimed that prior to the earthquake, he had been video-calling his mother and that it took him some time to come to a decision.
He has lost members of his extended family in addition to his youngest brother's family.
Another brother, he claimed, had sobbed while breaking the news to them over the phone.
Despite what we often hear in our culture, men do cry when confronted with situations like that, according to Mr. Ozdemir.
The initial report from family members had been encouraging, he continued, saying that everyone was fine, but then word of the deaths began to spread.
According to Emma Ozdemir, her husband is one of ten siblings, and the home of his youngest brother "just dropped like a concertina, completely destroyed.".
She described finding it difficult to comprehend "such a massive loss of life" and is a community nurse with the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust.
She stated that "so many families are in the same situation as ours, feeling numb with shock over it all.".
Nearly £33 million was raised on the first day of a Disasters Emergency Committee appeal.
Mr. Ozdemir has gathered dozens of bags of clothing and other supplies to send to the survivors and has been acting as a center for other members of the neighborhood Turkish community who want to donate.
Today is the day that we can do something heroic for those in need, he said.
