A North Belfast woman says she can't sit by and do nothing after seeing her Turkish friend so badly affected by the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on Monday.
Marie McGlade has set up a fundraising page to try and help her friend Mehmet Suremli and his wife Fiona O'Connor Suremli.
Fiona is originally from Co Fermanagh and the couple run the Irish bar O'Connor's in Gumbet.
Read more: Bangor charity's dogs aiding Turkey-Syria earthquake search and rescue efforts
Tragically, the death toll from the devastating natural disaster has passed 25,000 and work is still being carried out to rescue survivors from the rubble.
Although the earthquake has not directly affected Gumbet, it has had devastating consequences for Mehmet and his family in Antakya, which has been torn apart.
Marie and Mehmet will travel to his hometown of Hatay in that region to try and provide assistance.
"They're devastated, their family have been left with nothing but the clothes on their back, their homes have been destroyed," said Marie.
"On Thursday, 10 of his family were buried, uncles and cousins.
"They're just left in limbo too, the network isn't great in Turkey, the WiFi isn't great.
"I don't even think he's spoke to his mum since it happened.
"I just feel like I can't sit here and not do anything for them, I need to do something."
Marie said she had known Mehmet for most of her life and was determined to help him.
"I met him in 1998, we've been friends ever since, even before mobile phones and things, we used to write to each other and stuff," she said.
"We've just had a an amazing friendship over the years.
"He's always been Matthew to me, but Mehmet is his Turkish name, Mehmet Suremli.
"Over the years I've had many a holiday disaster where he and his wife have been there for me and I just thought I need to do something to help them."
Marie told Belfast Live she was distraught when she found out about the earthquake and immediately set to finding out how her friend was.
"I heard it first thing in the morning and immediately messaged them," she said.
"I didn't hear from them as obviously they were trying to contact their family, so I heard from them later in the day.
"Their nephew was rescued 53 hours after it all happened, the family had been searching for him and at the minute he's in intensive care."
She thanked everyone for their generousity so far and said it would go directly to helping the families.
"Everyone's been so kind, I'm actually overwhelmed by the donations that are coming in.
"My work, Lloyd's Banking Group, has just got involved as well and it's been shared there so I'm hoping to get loads more donations involved as well.
"Just please, anything that people can, every little adds up and helps these people in need.
"I just keep thinking if this was my family and I couldn't even contact them or get word that they're safe.
"To have to sit and wait to find out whether your family is buried under that rubble, is just heart-breaking.
"I just can't even bear to imagine what they're going through, so this is my way of doing something just to help."
If you wish to know more about Marie's appeal, you can find information here.
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