1 in 3 babies rescued with umbilical cord still in rubble after earthquake in Turkey — Photo: Reproduction; Rami al Sayed/AFP Baby rescued with umbilical cord still in debris after earthquake in Turkey — Photo: Reproduction; Rami alSayed/AFP
A baby born under the rubble of her family’s home, destroyed by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria two weeks ago, has left the hospital and been adopted by her uncles.
Her paternal uncles adopted her and gave her a new name Afraa, in honor of her mother, who died under the rubble along with her father and four siblings. The family lived in northern Syria, badly hit by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that killed more than 45,000 people in the area.
At first, the firefighters who rescued the baby named her Aya — Arabic for “a sign from God.”
Baby with umbilical cord rescued from rubble in Syria
Afraa’s story was widely reported in the news and people from all over the world offered to help her. However, the relatives who took her in said that no matter how difficult the situation, the child is best with family.
Since Monday, Afraa has been cared for by her uncle Khalil alSawadi, who is now living with relatives in the northern Syrian city of Jinderis after his house was also destroyed by the earthquake. AlSawadi and his wife have four daughters and two sons, and Afraa will now live with her cousins.
“She is one of my daughters now. I will not differentiate between her and my children,” alSawadi, who is also a cousin of the newborn’s parents, told the Associated Press on Monday while sitting crosslegged with Afraa surrounded by his six children. “She will be dearer to me than my children because she will keep alive the memory of her father, mother and brothers.”
2 of 3 The uncle of Afraa, the baby born under the rubble of the earthquake in Syria and Turkey, holds the girl after adopting her with his wife, Afraa’s biological aunt, on February 20, 2023. — Photo: Ghaith Alsayed / AP The uncle of Afraa, the baby born under the rubble of the earthquake in Syria and Turkey, holds the girl after he gave birth to his wife, Afraa’s biological aunt, on February 20, 2023 , has adopted. — Photo: Ghaith Alsayed/ AP
He also said that Days after Afraa’s birth, his wife gave birth to a daughter, Attaa.
Afrin’s judicial authorities took up Afraa’s case after the girl attracted international attention and some people came to the hospital claiming to be related to her despite having different surnames to Afraa and her mother.
For days, alSawadi feared that someone might kidnap her and often visited her in the hospital.
A hospital official said Afraa was handed over to her aunt’s family days after a DNA tests were carried out to ensure that the girl and her aunt were biologically related..
“It was sad and some nurses cried” as she left the hospital, said doctor Hani Maarouf, who has been taking care of Afraa since she was taken to the hospital. He added that the girl was in very good health when she was released.
3 of 3 Afraa before being discharged from the hospital she was taken to. — Photo: AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed Afraa before being discharged from the hospital she was taken to. — Photo: AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed
“I will raise her so she doesn’t need anything,” said alSawadi, who buys and sells cars. Surrounded by his children, alSawadi asked her if he should leave Afraa to those who agreed to adopt her. They answered unanimously, “No.”