Local members of a charity founded in Keighley travelled to Turkey to help people hit by two devastating earthquakes.

They were part of an international group called Al-Imdaad Foundation, which had its UK branch launched in Victoria Hall in December 2010. The foundation also has branches in other countries, including South Africa and Australia.

Among those who travelled to eastern Turkey last month were Lawkholme brothers Abdul Ahad, 29 and Zubair Miah, 35. The brothers, who both work as civil servants, spent five days coping with treacherous roads and freezing weather. Abdul said: “We delivered humanitarian aid to the most affected people. We had lots of donors from Keighley who contributed and raised money for this project.

“It was hard work but it had to be done. We’d get up at the crack of dawn because there was no lighting and we wanted to maximise the daylight hours. The way our organisation works is that we go in when the dust has settled and the media coverage has moved on, because that’s when the real work starts.

“When we go anywhere we always fly the flag of the UK, as we want to represent our country abroad.”

He and his fellow volunteers witnessed a massive ongoing operation to build tents and cabins to accommodate some of the 35,000 people made homeless by the earthquakes. The two quakes killed more than 640 people when they struck near the city of Van on October 23 and November 9.

The Al-Imdaad team distributed food packages and warm blankets and helped erect durable, insulated tents. Zubair said: “Despite the bright sunlight, the intense cold and freezing temperature was staggering. We saw the devastation caused by the two earthquakes and the continuing aftershocks.

“The residents had vacated their homes – some of which were totally destroyed, others partially damaged. Many tall blocks of flats and apartments lay empty with the damage clearly visible. Some blocks were still standing at dangerous angles.

“All the schools, madrasas and the University of Van, which we visited, were forced to close. The earthquakes turned more than 200 children into orphans. We made special provision to go and meet some of these displaced children.

“On the Friday, after prayers, we took the opportunity to distribute hot food to hundreds who had queued up with containers and plates outside a mobile kitchen.”