Gunmen Storm Syrian Hospital Caring for Baby Girl Born Under Rubble

Gunmen stormed into a hospital in Syria where a baby girl born under the rubble of her home was being kept. It was suspected that the gunmen planned on taking the baby away, but they stated they were only at the hospital for the director who had fired their friend, a nurse working at the hospital.

Aya, which means “a sign from God” in Arabic was the name given to the baby girl born under the rubble of her family home after the earthquakes rocked Syria and Turkiye. She has been in a hospital since the earthquakes and may be able to leave the hospital as soon as Tuesday or Wednesday, as per her great-uncle, Saleh al-Badran. He also added that the baby’s paternal aunt will raise her.

However, on Monday night, several gunmen stormed into the office and beat up the hospital’s director. It was suspected that the gunmen had come to kidnap the baby girl, but they told police officers protecting the girl that they were not interested in Aya and were after the director for firing their friend. Officials stated that the director noticed a nurse taking pictures of Aya and suspected that he may be planning on kidnapping her, so he kicked him out. The nurse later returned with the armed man and beat up the director.

Police were present at the hospital beforehand to guard Aya against strangers coming to the hospital claiming to be related to her.

About 10 hours after the earthquake in Syrian, rescue workers discovered Aya in the northern town of Jinderis. She lived in a five-story apartment building with her parents, who died during the earthquake while birthing Aya. The baby girl was still connected to her mother by her umbilical cord. She was taken to the hospital where she has been since.

Vineet Washington