Six-year-old Mustafa El Nezzel will obtain remedy after an award-winning picture spurred a fund-raising drive.
The award-winning image of Munzir El Nezzel playfully lifting Mustafa, his son who was born with out limbs, has given the household a shot at a brand new life after turning into a poignant image of the plight of war-torn Syria.
The stunning but tender image taken by Turkish photographer Mehmet Aslan, titled Hardship of Life, captured an intimate second of affection between a father and son whose our bodies have been maimed by the brutal battle.
Six-year-old Mustafa was born with a congenital dysfunction attributable to drugs his mom took whereas pregnant after being sickened by nerve fuel. His 35-year-old father had his leg amputated following a bomb assault in Syria.
After being declared picture of the 12 months on the Siena Worldwide Photograph Awards (SIPA) final 12 months and making headlines in Italy, it sparked crowdfunding efforts that raised about 100,000 euros ($114,000) to supply each father and son with prosthetic limbs.
The organisers of the images competition then requested the Catholic diocese to take up the duty of dealing with paperwork, offering monetary assist, and in search of a visa on humanitarian grounds in compliance with Italy’s sponsorship necessities.
Mustafa landed in Rome’s Fiumicino Airport on Friday, accompanied by his father, mom and his two sisters, ages one and 4. The household will likely be resettled in Siena, a metropolis in central Italy’s Tuscany area distinguished by its medieval brick buildings and residential to the images competition.
In a video message recorded earlier than taking off from Ankara to fly to Italy, Mustafa expressed his gratitude. “We’re coming, thanks,” he mentioned. “We love Italia.”
In an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica previous to the household’s departure from Reyhanli, alongside the Turkish border with Syria, El Nezzel mentioned he was grateful for the opportunity of sending his youngsters to high school.
However he mentioned his largest want was to sooner or later be capable to see his youngster arise on synthetic legs.
“I hope to obtain his hug, even when it’s a hug with prosthesis,” El Nezzel mentioned. “That is what issues to me essentially the most.”
Prosthetic consultants on the Centro Protesi Inail in Vigorso di Budrio, northern Italy, will design synthetic limbs to assist Mustafa achieve mobility, in keeping with The New York Occasions.
Mustafa is at the moment unable to stroll independently and can want long-term remedy to be self-sufficient. Specialists quoted by the American newspaper mentioned that, whereas treating the kid could be difficult, the daddy might recuperate most of his mobility in a couple of weeks.
The Diocese of Siena will likely be accountable for welcoming the household. “We’re ready for Mustafa and his household,” Cardinal Paolo Lojudice informed native media.
Luca Venturi, the founding father of the images award who launched the crowdfunding marketing campaign, was awaiting the household on the airport in Rome.
“Once we had affirmation of their arrival we screamed for pleasure,” he informed La Repubblica. “We by no means thought we’d get to see today.”