Hi, my name is Aliye Derya Kurt. My hometown of Antakya, Hatay was hit the hardest in the earthquake that struck Turkey.

My entire family lived in Hatay. I have lost countless friends and family members. The number of loved ones trapped under the rubble who I haven’t heard from is even higher.

In multiple cities, there is not a single building standing. Everyone has lost everything. There are thousands of people still trapped under their collapsed homes. Those who have survived are roaming without food or water searching for their lost families. Grocery stores, hospitals, police stations, and banks have been demolished. Many people cannot escape the destruction as they do not even have the money to do so. Hospitals and morgues are at full capacity. There are dead bodies everywhere. The smell of rotting bodies has become overwhelming.

Please keep in mind that the earthquake struck at 4:17 AM. These people ran out of bed in their pyjamas with nothing in their pockets. No wallets. No cash. No credit cards. No ID's. Thousands of people need money in their hands to rebuild.

Thankfully, millions of Lira have been raised by non-profits that are focusing on delivering survival essentials such as water, food, blankets and tents to survivors. However, I am worried for the future. There are thousands of people who need money in their hands to be able to buy gas for their cars, check in to hotels, cover funeral expenses and carry on with their lives over the course of the next few weeks.

My community and network in Hatay is extremely large. I am currently in touch with people who require financial support. My goal with this GoFundMe is to raise money that we can give directly to the hands of people in need.

Please help in anyway that you can. I promise you that every penny counts. Thank you in advance for your contributions.