British aid worker Joe English says it’s a privilege to help earthquake survivors
A British aid worker has said he is privileged to be helping children in the wake of devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria – but fears for their mental health.
Unicef’s Joe English, 35, has been working with young people who lost their homes after the 7.8 magnitude quake on February 6.
‘I can leave, I can get on a plane at the end of this trip,’ he said. ‘Many of these families cannot; this is their life.’
Mr English, originally from west London, arrived in Gaziantep, Turkey, ten days after the quake.
Following a second earthquake on February 21, he went to northern Syria. Unicef has provided drinking water but Mr English fears the distress caused by the disaster could have long-term impacts.
‘We’re doing what we can to reach children with psychosocial support, to give them safe spaces to play, to colour in and be with their friends – just to be a child again,’ he said.
Many Syrian children were displaced by the civil war that began in 2011.
‘I was speaking to an 11-year-old yesterday: his entire life has been set against this backdrop of conflict and displacement,’ Mr English said.
Fundraising in the UK was critical for Unicef’s work, he added. To learn more, visit http://www.unicef.uk/earthquakenews.
Pregnant mum's daughters continually ask when they can go home
A pregnant mum forced to live on the streets after the earthquake says her daughters continually ask when they can go home. Aalaa, who now shares a Unicef shelter with children Mona, four and Ritaj, three, says she sings to them at night to stop them crying. Their Jableh home in Syria was flattened by the quake.
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