A doctor is helping collect donations to send to the victims of a catastrophic earthquake which hit Turkey and Syria.

Dr Conor Alakus, who works at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, joined the University of Sussex's Turkish Society to collect items to send to victims of the earthquake.

Since then, students and staff at the hospital have donated items including canned food, baby formula, nappies, sanitary products, winter clothing, blankets, sleeping bags and tents.

The Argus: Dr Conor Alakus is collecting donations for those affected by the earthquake in Turkey and SyriaDr Conor Alakus is collecting donations for those affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria (Image: University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust)

Writing on Facebook, a spokesman for University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust said: “The care and compassion our staff show every day is amazing and this act of kindness is truly incredible to see.

“Thank you to everyone who has donated so far.”

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The death toll from the 7.8 magnitude quake has passed 21,000 since it hit on Monday – reducing thousands of homes and buildings across the south of Turkey and northern Syria to rubble as people slept.

Many people are yet to be discovered and civilians are trapped and have little hope of survival in freezing temperatures.

This charity project was initiated by the Turkish Society at the University of Sussex and is a collaborative effort of a group of dedicated students.

“We worked tirelessly for several days,” said Melis Samdanci, Vice President of the Turkish Society.

The society's president Ömer Dernek said: "We may not be physically in Türkiye in these hard times, however we still have the ability and power to come together, fundraise and collect goods."

The first collection made up dozens of boxes of donations and he will be getting them sent out to Turkey and Northern Syria in the coming days.

He and the students hope to arrange another collection soon.

“Fantastic work, Conor, and all the volunteers for supporting those in need,” said the hospital spokesman.