Afraa is a six-month-old baby girl who has a remarkable story of survival and hope. She was born under the rubble of her family home in Syria, after a devastating earthquake killed her parents and siblings.
She was rescued by her uncle, who adopted her and gave her a new name. Now, she is thriving with her new family, despite the challenges they face.
The earthquake that changed everything
On 6 February 2023, a powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.8 struck southeast Turkey and northwest Syria, causing widespread destruction and death. More than 44,000 people lost their lives in the disaster, including Afraa’s father, mother, and four brothers and sisters.
Afraa’s mother was pregnant and went into labour as the earthquake hit their town of Jindayris, near the Turkish border. She gave birth to Afraa under the rubble of their collapsed house, but died shortly after. Afraa was still attached to her mother by the umbilical cord when rescuers found them.
One of the rescuers was Khalil al-Sawadi, Afraa’s uncle and the brother of her father. He heard a faint cry from under the debris and started digging. He was shocked to see his sister-in-law’s body and his newborn niece. He quickly cut the cord and took Afraa to safety.
A video of the rescue went viral on social media, showing Khalil holding Afraa in his arms as he emerged from the rubble. He named her Aya, which means miracle in Arabic.
Afraa was taken to a hospital, where doctors said she had minor injuries and breathing difficulties due to the dust. She was also given a DNA test to confirm her identity.
A new name and a new family
Khalil and his wife Hala decided to adopt Afraa and raise her as their own daughter. They already had seven children, but they felt that Afraa was a gift from God and a precious reminder of their lost relatives.
They also gave her a new name: Afraa, after her mother. They wanted to honour her memory and keep her close to their hearts.
However, adopting Afraa was not easy. Thousands of people from around the world offered to take care of her, after seeing her story on the news. Khalil and Hala had to wait for 10 days for the DNA results to prove that they were related to Afraa.
They also had to deal with security threats, as they feared that someone might try to kidnap Afraa. They stayed with her at the hospital as much as they could, and received protection from the police.
Finally, they were able to take Afraa home with them. They buried her parents and siblings in a nearby village, where mass graves were dug for the victims of the earthquake.
A difficult life in a war-torn country
Khalil and Hala‘s home in Jindayris was badly damaged by the earthquake. It had large cracks and was unsafe to live in. They lost their car and most of their belongings.
They moved to a tent in a camp for two months, where they faced harsh conditions. It was very hot and they had two babies to take care of: Afraa and their own daughter Ataa, who was born three days after Afraa.
They managed to find a house to rent later, but they are struggling to pay for it. They are afraid that they might lose it soon, as the owner needs it back.
They also face other challenges living in northwest Syria, where an estimated 50,000 families were displaced by the earthquake. The area is controlled by rebel groups who are fighting against the Syrian government in a 12-year civil war.
Delivering aid to the four million people living in this region is extremely difficult, as they face violence, poverty, and lack of basic services.
A happy baby with a bright future
Despite all these hardships, Khalil and Hala are doing their best to provide for Afraa and their other children. They love them all equally and treat them as one family.
Afraa is growing up healthy and happy. She likes to smile at everyone and play with her siblings. She has recovered from her injuries and has no health problems.
Khalil says he spends most of his time with Afraa and can’t bear to be away from her for too long. He says he will tell her what happened when she grows up and show her pictures of her biological family.
He hopes that one day, Afraa will have a better life in a peaceful country. He says he is grateful for all the support and prayers he has received from people around the world.
He also reminds us that there are many other people who are suffering in Syria and need help.