Coronavirus: Help pours in for 6 siblings in UAE who lost parents to Covid-19

Sharjah - Charities have come to the rescue of the children, who are now living with their cousin in Ajman.

Help poured in for six children in Sharjah who lost both of their parents to Covid-19. A charity quickly came to their aid, paying their school fees and two years of rent and pledging to provide them with monthly allowance.

In a span of less than a month, the Sudanese children - aged three to 17 - were orphaned as their parents succumbed to complications caused by the coronavirus. The couple died only 23 days apart. All six kids were left in the care of their cousin, Mohamed Hashim.

Upon learning of the family tragedy, the Dar Al Ber Society reached out to them and offered help. The charity's abandoned family committee paid Dh50,000 for the kids' tuition fees, as well as two years worth of rent. They were also provided with iPads and laptops for their e-learning needs.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Ali Al Assi, chairman of the committee, said they will also be allocating monthly allowances for the kids to help Hashim in taking care of them.

"The UAE is a homeland of humanity that is always ready to extend support to those in need, regardless of nationality," said Al Assi.

Hashim said the tragedy has changed everything for the family. "The situation has been extremely difficult for us since their parents got sick and eventually died," he said.

He said his uncle - Ali Ahmed Al Tayeb, the kids' father who ran a small business - got infected with Covid-19 a few days after his 45-year-old wife died of the disease. Al Tayeb, 57, was a diabetic.

"But the difficulty of the situation does not make me forget my faith. I'm trying my best to help and support the children, especially in overcoming the pain and agony," said Hashim, who works at a private car rental company in Sharjah.

The six children - Waed Ali Ahmad, 17; Batoul Ali Ahmed, 15; Kamal Al Din Ali Ahmad, 14; Zainab Ali Ahmed, 11;  Nour  Ali Ahmed, six; and Muhammad Ali Ahmed; 3 - have moved to his residence in Ajman.

"All I hope is for them to continue their studies and be the best people their parents wanted them to be," Hashim said, adding that he is grateful for all the help that came pouring in for them.

"We are fortunate to have been living in a country of giving," he said.

afkarali@khaleejtimes.com

• Sharjah