About 20 Afghan social and cultural institutions in Turkey have started a relief effort for the quake victims in the south and southeast of the country.

According to representatives of these institutions, Afghans living in Turkey have gathered cash, food, clothing for the winter, and other necessities over the past three days from all across the country.

This comes as the death toll from the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria passed 21,000 people.

A neighborhood in Kütahya province, where 2500 Afghan citizens resided, was where Afghan citizens experienced the greatest number of casualties, according to a report by social groups there.

"Our commission is operating in several provinces, including Kütahya. They report to us, and we provide them help from here, so we have information regarding Afghan residents. In this province, 120 Afghan citizens have died so far. Many more people who are still trapped beneath the rubble will be pulled out,” said Abdul Ghafoor Turan, head of the Afghan associations in Turkey.

The representatives of these institutions said that they had sent many teams of young volunteers in cooperation with the Turkish immigration department to distribute relief to earthquake-affected areas.

"So far, we have collected five million Turkish Liras from our people, and they also send everyday supplies to the associations, such as food, winter clothing, and other necessities. We deliver these things to the earthquake-affected areas. 15 vehicles of aid have been collected and have been sent to the earthquake victims and this help continues,” said Noor Ahmad, director of an Afghan Charity Association in Turkey.

"Our Afghans are living in Kütahya and Günebakan. They should stand and provide assistance. This is a challenging day, the people of Afghanistan and Turkey are brothers and friends,” said Ezatullah Sadat, head of the Federation of Afghan Associations in Turkey.

The Islamic Emirate announced cash aid of ten million afghanis to the victims of the earthquake in Turkey and five million afghani to the victims of Syria.

This comes as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that families affected by the recent earthquake in this country will be given economic help of 10,000 Liras.