A UK charity that supplies filtration units, for safe drinking water, to crisis zones around the world, has prepared its first shipment of filters for survivors of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

Aquabox says its initial consignment of 288 family filters and 20 community filters - enough to provide clean water to over 10,000 people - is prepared and ready to go, once a secure supply and distribution route into the disaster zone is found. The charity's organisers say they have been amazed at the support received to date and thank all supporters.

"Our priority is to establish a secure supply route into the disaster zone and work with local partners to set up a reliable distribution network into the communities impacted by the earthquakes," says a statement on Aquabox's website. "We continue to have discussions with our key contacts in Turkey and Northern Syria to agree a secure supply and distribution route."

The situation on the ground in Turkey and Syria is understood to be very confused, with roads and railways destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of people no longer have access to basic sanitation and clean water and are at risk of outbreaks of diseases like cholera and typhoid.

Some 43,000 people are reported dead from the devastation caused by the powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake — the deadliest disaster in Turkey’s modern history.

Aquabox says its local partners are in contact with government officials in the worst affected regions to agree on an effective and secure distribution strategy. The charity is also looking at the option of using airlines to fly this initial consignment into Adana Airport, which is still operational and close to the disaster zone.

Each Aquabox unit contains water purification filters as well as items of humanitarian aid to help with shelter, lighting, cooking and feeding, educational development and hygiene.

Aquabox is a volunteer-led charity and since its formation in 1992, has sent more than 110,000 aid boxes to more than 50 countries around the world. To support Aquabox's effort for survivors in Turkey and Syria, or similar disasters, donate here www.justgiving.com/campaign/Aquabox