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Aziz Legacy Children's Fund

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On August 16, 2014 The Daily Telegraph and the BBC chronicled the story of Aziz (above), a 4 year old disabled Yazidi boy found abandoned in the Sinjar desert.

In face of an IS assault, his parents had to take the heart-breaking and unimaginable decision to leave Aziz behind in order to save their other five children. Unable to turn himself because of his disability, Aziz lay for 24 hours in the scorching heat starring into the sun. On the verge of death, Aziz was rescued by Kurdish fighters who rushed him to hospital for emergency treatment.

The story of Aziz impacted many. People from around the world - including the UK, Croatia, Greece, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, India and the US - mobilized through Twitter and formed the #littleyazidiboy working group. Sadly, two weeks later Aziz passed away, hours before being airlifted abroad for specialist treatment. In another cruel twist, Aziz’s father arrived at the hospital just hours after Aziz had passed away.

Though Aziz did not win his fight for life, he has left a lasting legacy that has mobilized people from around the world to help his fellow Yazidi and others in Iraq. Furthermore, the #littleyazidiboy working group is continuing in its efforts to ensure that other children facing pressing medical emergencies get the care they desperately need before it is too late.

To this end, and thanks to the kind donations from people around the world, the #littleyazidiboy working group recently spearheaded efforts to help another little boy called Hasan (below).



A two year old Shitte Turkmen from Iraq, Hasan and his family were forced to flee an IS advance in August 2014. Having escaped, the family were caught up in a suicide bombing that killed most of Hasan’s immediate family. Hassan survived and was reunited with his mother and uncle. He required multiple operations to his left eye - including plastic surgery - in addition to surgery on his left arm which had been very badly fractured. 

Working with organisations based in Iraq and the wider region, the #littleyazidiboy working group was able to fly Hasan, his mother and uncle to Tehran (Iran) where he recieved pioneering eye surgery. As a result, Hasan has now returned to Iraq having made a full recovery. To learn more about our work with Hasan, click here .

Please support the #littleyazidiboy working group, so that we can continue to support other children caught up in this conflict and who require urgent medical care. By giving, you are not only honouring Aziz’s legacy, but also ensuring that other children can continue to fight for their lives and their future.

Thank you.

Organizer

Mary Beth Wilkinson
Organizer
Philadelphia, PA

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