In February 2023, while we were in Türkiye, the devastating earthquakes struck eastern Türkiye and Syria. Like so many others, our instinct as a family was to rush to the affected areas and help directly, but we quickly realised that wasn’t practical or safe. Instead, we set up a JustGiving page to raise funds for essential supplies that could be donated through our local community hub. These items were then loaded onto trucks and delivered to the worst-affected regions.

The response was overwhelming. Our initial target was £5,000, but within three days that figure had already been surpassed. Within just a couple of weeks, donations had exceeded £20,000. With the incredible generosity of our donors, we were able to purchase vital items such as canned food, hygiene products, medical equipment, clothing, and blankets - supplies that helped bring a small but real, immediate relief to families in crisis.

Over two years later, in July 2025, we had some more charity funds we wanted to distribute. Wondering how survivors were coping, Ibrar and our two eldest sons travelled to Gaziantep, to a small town called Nurdağı - just one of the areas hardest hit by the earthquakes. What they witnessed there was far more shocking than expected. While government efforts have brought progress in Hatay province, and new buildings are going up in Nurdağı, many people are still living in makeshift tents and prefabricated tiny homes.

With the help of a local guide, they visited families in desperate need. Ibrar had offered to bring supplies, but the guide explained that what people need most is financial help, allowing them the dignity to purchase what is most essential for their households. Among the people they met was a disabled woman - abandoned by her husband, struggling to care for her children, one of whom is also disabled. They also met a man recovering from open-heart surgery, living alone and unable to work, as well as several other families whose stories, though different, share the same themes of loss, displacement and urgent need.

Their visit was a stark reminder that while the world may move on, many survivors of the earthquake continue to live with the daily reality of displacement, extreme hardship, poverty and uncertainty. These communities need ongoing support and, above all, not to be forgotten.

We have recently set up a new halal tourism buisness through which we curate holidays and retreats designed for Muslims seeking rest, adventure and connection. This has been a dream of ours for over a decade and we are how finally able to realise the dream, inshAllah. It has always been important to us that our work carries a deeper purpose and that’s why we are continuing the modest charity work we did in 2023.

So, after seeing the devastation and need first hand, we have committed to donating 10% of the profits from every booking to support earthquake survivors in Nurdağı. In addition, we have launched this JustGiving campaign to help provide ongoing assistance and we warmly invite you to contribute and to share the campaign with your friends, family and colleagues, so together we can extend hope and relief to those who need it most.

To find out more about Hayati Halal Escapes, please visit: www.hayatihalalescapes.com