The Anglican community in Istanbul has recently announced the continuing struggle of its Istanbul Anglican Earthquake Appeal, which was set up after the huge earthquake in Turkey earlier this year which it is estimated as having left sixty to seventy thousand dead and thousands more injured and homeless.

Generous donations from the public have so far totalled £36,000 and have allowed the Appeal to set up over fifteen prefabricated huts for a variety of uses including emergency services at Bolu Hospital, a food store, a centre for traumatised children, a childcare centre and a women's' social centre.

The Appeal has also supplied over 300 winter coats and mattresses, essential flooring for a number of sites, heaters and carpeting to local mosques and various tables and chairs for local support centres.

Canon Ian Sherwood, Chaplain to Istanbul in the diocese in Europe spoke this week about the work of the appeal so far; "This appeal is to help those who in 45 seconds endured the effects of one hundred atom bombs. Over one hundred thousand men, women, and children continue to be traumatised and to live under canvas.

The Anglican Chaplaincy is only one of many hundreds of groups trying to assist and we are grateful to all that have responded to our appeal. It is hard to convey the continuing pain. We plan to continue our present efforts till March 2000 and shall do so only through the prayers of all decent people", said Canon Sherwood.

The Istanbul Chaplaincy Appeal will continue until March 2000. Those wishing to support this appeal can send cheques payable to "The Diocese in Europe" marked for the Istanbul Chaplaincy Earthquake Appeal, 14 Tufton Street, Westminster, London SW1P 3QZ.

Notes to Editors

* Official statistics continue to report seventeen thousand dead. This is the sum of those bodies immediately taken from the wreckage but does not reflect the thousands discovered since the first clearance of rubble began.