pounds 500,000 for appeal

READERS OF The Independent have helped to raise an estimated pounds 500,000 for the hundreds of thousands turned into refugees by the earthquake that has devastated north-western Turkey.

The British Red Cross, which is co-ordinating the newspaper's appeal with its own, said it has been overwhelmed by the public response to the disaster in recent days. The money is being used to provide emergency equipment, such as blankets, tents and medical supplies.