Syria youngster quake victims, flown to UAE, unaware of heartbreak to come back

ABU DHABI: Cradling a pink stuffed animal as she sleeps in a United Arab Emirates hospital, a nine-year-old Syrian earthquake survivor is recovering from the injuries that almost claimed her life, believing her mom continues to be alive.

Sham Sheikh Mohammed, who suffered extreme crush accidents in a 40-hour ordeal beneath the rubble, has not but been informed that each her mom and sister died within the February 6 earthquake that killed greater than 50,000 individuals in Syria and Turkiye.

“I inform her that her mom is in crucial care and that her situation is tough,” stated her father, Mohammad, who has barely slept since Sham and his 15-year-old son, Omar, have been taken from Syria’s rebel-held northwest to Turkiye after which flown to Abu Dhabi for emergency medical remedy.

Sham’s story captivated Syrians and others all over the world after a viral video confirmed her buzzing a tune with the White Helmets rescue group that labored for six hours to free her.

She and her brother are amongst 12 Syrian quake survivors who have been flown by the UAE for specialist care for his or her crush accidents in Abu Dhabi.

Docs on the Burjeel Medical Metropolis hospital say they’ve “managed” life-threatening infections in her decrease limbs, with out commenting on whether or not they have been compelled to amputate.

“Sham’s situation is steady,” stated her father, additionally declining to present additional particulars.

Sham’s survival encapsulated the tragedy, hope and heartbreak of the 7.8-magnitude quake that levelled buildings throughout Turkiye and components of Syria final month.

After her rescue within the city of Armanaz, in Idlib province, captured world consideration, the UAE dispatched a medical plane to fly her and Omar to Abu Dhabi from Istanbul.

“Each youngsters at the moment are recovering nicely,” their physician in Abu Dhabi, Michael Uglow, stated in an announcement final week.

However Sham shouldn’t be the one younger survivor who will quickly face a harrowing revelation.

‘We informed her everybody’s alive’

In a close-by hospital, Israa al-Abdullah receives routine updates on her medical situation however no information on the destiny of her household.

Like Sham, the 17-year-old from the Syrian authorities stronghold of Jableh was rescued after spending hours trapped in rubble.

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She has accidents to her cranium, pelvis and shoulder and nerve injury in her eyes, stated her brother Mohammad, a Syrian military soldier who was in Damascus when the quake hit.

What Israa doesn’t know is that her mother and father and 4 different siblings all died within the earthquake, together with a brother’s spouse and daughter.

Israa, her 12-year-old sister and one nephew have been the one survivors.

“We informed her that everybody is alive,” stated Mohammad, closing the door of Israa’s hospital room so she couldn’t overhear.

Israa asks most about her mom, her sister Ghufran in addition to her younger niece Jana – all of whom have been killed, Mohammad stated.

‘My son died hungry’

Hooked to displays and an intravenous drip, Israa pants closely however can barely communicate. The nerve injury has left her cross-eyed and affected by impaired imaginative and prescient.

Docs say she is going to seemingly make a full restoration, in accordance with Mohammad. However till she improves, the reality about her household will stay a secret.

“I buried my relations one after the opposite,” Mohammad stated. “I can’t inform (Israa) something till God cures her and she will rise up on her personal two toes.”

In a close-by room, Ali Yussef Remmo, a displaced Syrian from the countryside of Latakia province, is receiving remedy for accidents in his decrease limbs.

The daddy of three has regained partial leg mobility and is assured that he’ll stroll once more. However he’s tormented by the lack of his youngest son and his spouse, who was two months pregnant when their constructing collapsed.

The toughest a part of being in an Emirati hospital, he stated, is receiving platefuls of meals, figuring out he couldn’t afford dinner for his household the day the tremor took their lives.

“My son died hungry,” he stated, tears swelling in his eyes.

“After I come to eat hen, or meat, or an apple or a biscuit, I believe that my 10-year-old was disadvantaged of all of these items.”