Ill Syrian woman makes impassioned plea to UN
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A destitute 50-year-old Syrian woman with several medical complaints is asking for the United Nations to relocate her to a third country where she can receive medical care.
Lubna Ali Deeb fled Aleppo, Syria three and a half years ago. She lives in the Qushtapa refugee camp in Erbil province.
"I make a living selling water," Deeb said. Suffering from a muscle atrophy disease and several other ailments, this is the only work she can do. "When I was a child, I just had three fingers. After suffering a stroke, I lost them. So I cannot work at factories or in houses."
She also has severe back pain and poor eyesight.
Her husband passed away 15 years ago and last month the assistance she received from the United Nations ended. She lives off the small amount of money she makes selling water and the kindness of neighbors.
"Since I am sick, I need money. I am forced to work," she said. "God is my witness, sometimes I have no money to buy food. Sometimes, I borrow money from my neighbors for food.”
Now all she wants is to move to a third country where she can receive medical treatment.
"I am pleading for help from the UN," she asked. "I need the UN to relocate me to a third country. I want them to take me to a country where I will receive medical care, a country that will take care of me, take me to a hospital and cure me.”
"I am 50 years old now. I am too old to be in the streets selling water."
There are more than 250,000 Syrian refugees living in the Kurdistan Region.
Lubna Ali Deeb fled Aleppo, Syria three and a half years ago. She lives in the Qushtapa refugee camp in Erbil province.
"I make a living selling water," Deeb said. Suffering from a muscle atrophy disease and several other ailments, this is the only work she can do. "When I was a child, I just had three fingers. After suffering a stroke, I lost them. So I cannot work at factories or in houses."
She also has severe back pain and poor eyesight.
Her husband passed away 15 years ago and last month the assistance she received from the United Nations ended. She lives off the small amount of money she makes selling water and the kindness of neighbors.
"Since I am sick, I need money. I am forced to work," she said. "God is my witness, sometimes I have no money to buy food. Sometimes, I borrow money from my neighbors for food.”
Now all she wants is to move to a third country where she can receive medical treatment.
"I am pleading for help from the UN," she asked. "I need the UN to relocate me to a third country. I want them to take me to a country where I will receive medical care, a country that will take care of me, take me to a hospital and cure me.”
"I am 50 years old now. I am too old to be in the streets selling water."
There are more than 250,000 Syrian refugees living in the Kurdistan Region.