Under the directives of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Syrian child “Sham” and her brother “Omar” receive treatment in the UAE
Under the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, and Honorary President of the Emirates Red Crescent “Mother of the Nation,” the Syrian child “Sham” and her brother “Omar” have arrived in Abu Dhabi to receive the necessary medical treatment. This is part of Her Highness’s commitment to providing medical care and treatment for critical cases of the devastating earthquake in Syria and Turkey.
Following the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Representative of the Ruler in the Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Emirates Red Crescent, which called for urgent action, the Emirates Red Crescent, in collaboration with Burjeel Hospital, formed a specialized medical team to care for “Sham” and her brother. They were transported urgently to Burjeel Medical City aboard a specially prepared medical aircraft. Sham, aged 9, and Omar, aged 15, were flown to Abu Dhabi to receive life-saving care.
Upon their arrival, they were welcomed by Her Excellency Dr. Maitha bint Salem Al Shamsi, Minister of State; His Excellency Hamoud Al Junaibi, Secretary-General of the Emirates Red Crescent; His Excellency Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for International Development Affairs; and Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, Founder, Chairman, and Managing Director of VPS Healthcare in the UAE.
At Burjeel Hospital, critical surgeries were performed under the supervision of Dr. Michael Oglou. Sham’s life was at risk due to severe gangrene that had spread to her lower body, and her brother Omar’s condition was also stabilized. Dr. Oglou emphasized that the medical team exerted maximum effort to save their lives. He noted that Sham’s condition required urgent and specialized surgical intervention due to its severity and critical stage.
His Excellency Hamoud Al Junaibi highlighted the importance of collaboration between the Emirates Red Crescent and healthcare institutions such as Burjeel Hospital, particularly in emergencies requiring life-saving measures. He stressed that this reflects the UAE’s leadership’s humanitarian vision, rooted in the nation’s values and culture, prioritizing human compassion and assistance in its highest form.
Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil praised the Emirates Red Crescent for its efforts. He commended the remarkable humanitarian role of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak and the diligent follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He highlighted their commitment to supporting those affected by the earthquake in Syria and Turkey through medical care, humanitarian aid, and necessary support during such critical times. Dr. Vayalil assured that Burjeel Hospital is fully equipped and dedicated to providing the best care for injured children and patients.
Bashar Aliq, a family member of Sham who accompanied her to Abu Dhabi, expressed his gratitude for this noble gesture. He stated, “We are deeply grateful to the leadership of the UAE and Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the ‘Mother of the Nation,’ for this humane act. Doctors in Istanbul told us that Sham required full leg amputations due to her injuries and the lack of timely medical care. However, her father refused this option. We were overjoyed when it was decided that we would travel to the UAE on a private medical aircraft with a specialized team. This gave us hope and reassurance that Sham and Omar would receive far better care.”
