Islamic Society of Milwaukee working to send aid after Turkey earthquakes

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Here in Milwaukee, local organizations and immigrants are feeling the shockwaves of the tragic series of earthquakes affecting Turkey and Syria.

The Islamic Society of Milwaukee is working on getting aid to people helping those impacted, as people with families in Syria and Turkey try to figure out what happened to their loved ones.

"The images are just horrendous, actually I was watching some videos where they show the apartment blocks coming down and there's no doubt that these apartments were still filled with these people and families," said Islamic Society of Milwaukee Executive Director Othman Atta.

He says many cultural sites that are thousands of years old were also destroyed in the quakes.

What's more important, is people, said Atta, millions of which are Syrian refugees who were living in Turkey.

"Forced to be refugees because of the civil war, and now they've lost their homes, and many of them have lost their lives as well," said Atta.

Refugees like Ragaa Abdallah.

She and Marwan Alabout, who is also from Syria, spoke with CBS 58 at the Damascus Gate Syrian Restaurant in Milwaukee.

Alabout translated for her.

"Her mom is okay, and her younger brother is okay, but her older brother and his wife, they couldn't find like their body, or where they belong to, or if they're in the hospital or if they're dead," Alabout explained for Abdallah.

Abdallah left Syria to Turkey to escape the war before coming to the US.

She says Syrians have faced racism in Turkey as well as refugees.

Alabout says while his family lived far enough away to be safe, he's hoping the US can help those who are hurting right now.

"I would love the USA, if they could help Syria, any other country that's safe," said Alabout.

Atta says as their community continues to figure out just how much they've been hurt, they're gathering donations to send aid to the people who can do the most good right away.

"International relief groups that are on the ground working with the people so we can help them out, that's what's being requested right now," said Atta.

Officials with the Islamic Society of Milwaukee say if you're interested in donating, you can click here to find their donation page. They say to include that the donation is for earthquake relief in the memo.