Concern for family back home after devastating earthquakes
The images showing the devastation in Turkiye and Syria hit home for those with family there.
“All the news and the Instagram or the other social media and they didn't tell me because I'm here and they're in Turkiye,” said Berfin Kaya, whose family is homeless after the quakes.
“They didn't want me to worry, to be worried,” said Kaya. “And I was shocked. I'm still in shock, and I called them. I couldn't reach them for hours.”
Kerem Hatiboglu has been reaching out to family and friends, and while they are safe, it's painful to watch the recovery effort.
“Every day I feel like this situation is getting worse with the aftershocks, there's not enough help,” said Hatiboglu.
Those families are homeless with the constant aftershocks, and structural damage — and it’s not safe to be inside.
“No, no. They're still waiting in the streets. The babies, the pregnant women, the elderly people. They're at the streets,” said Kaya.
The images can take a toll on families here in London, Ont., which is why the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) sent out a letter to parents on Tuesday to direct them to resources that can assist with the stress.
“Having supports in schools from individuals that you trust, that you have relationships with when you need it most, it is so important. It's so important because we don't know when it's going to be the moment that we really need to reach out,” said Lucas Anderson of the TVDSB.
The Red Cross is accepting donations, and they are in critical need as people are fighting the elements trying to survive.
“There's not enough tents, and as you know, it's winter now, so people are cold. They don't have charges on their phone, they don't have like food, they don't have socks, they don't have anything [to] make them warm” said Hatiboglu.
Listed below are the links to websites where you can donate or obtain mental health help.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.