Baby born under quake rubble in Syria’s Jindires adopted by uncle
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – A baby girl, who was rescued after being born beneath the rubble of her family’s building, the only survived member of her immediate family, is now living with her new family in the earthquake-affected Jindires town, northwest Syria.
Thousands of people had offered to adopt the newborn, soon after the video of her rescue went viral on social media, now she has a new home with her aunt and uncle.
After a DNA test confirmed a blood relative, the girl’s aunt and uncle adopted her and named her Afraa, the name of her late mother, who passed away after giving birth following the deadly Feb.6 earthquake.
On Feb. 6, a devastating earthquake hit southern Turkey and northwestern Syria, killing about 50.000 and injuring many more, in addition to devastating thousands of buildings under which thousands were trapped.
“As a result of the DNA test performed by the local relevant authorities, they made sure we were her blood relatives. So she is now living with me thank God,” Khalil al-Sawadi, Afraa’s uncle, said.
Al-Sawadi insured that she is the only member left by her family, “Afraa’s father and mother, four siblings and an aunt were killed, there’s no-one left of her family besides this baby, she’ll be a memory for me of her mother and father.”
The man further explained that he had received much adoption and leaving the country offers, but he rejected them all and insisted on raising the girl in Syria as one of his family member.
“She is one of my children now, Afraa was born in Syria and here will die, so I will not leave Syria,” he said.
Various civil society organizations raised concern that children who had been separated from their parents could fall prey to gangs, abusers or organ mafias.