Twitter helps evacuate Syrian girl for surgery after being shot

Published August 15th, 2016 - 10:30 GMT

Ghina Wadi was shot on August 2 in her left leg in the besieged city of Madaya. (Twitter)

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The international community, with the aid of Twitter, has rallied to save the life of a young Syrian girl shot by a sniper in the besieged Syrian city of Madaya.

The 10-year-old had been trapped in Madaya by Syrian regime forces and was unable to receive the surgery she urgently required.

In response, many took to Twitter to draw attention to Ghina’s story, with #SaveGhina trending as people called for her to be evacuated from Madaya for surgery.

A 10-yr-old Syrian girl is trapped in #Madaya & needs urgent surgery. Call for her evacuation to hospital #SaveGhina https://t.co/42TDvKyT96
— kristyan benedict (@KreaseChan) August 12, 2016

Please can you help us @emergency_ong #SaveGhina #Save_Ghina #Madaya #Syria https://t.co/BOsJt9Iwut
— Vero Ger (@GerV29) August 10, 2016

#Syria - 9-year-old Ghina was shot by a sniper in besieged #Madaya 9 days ago. No hospital, No medicine! #SaveGhina https://t.co/YICwbHmyhk

— DOAM (@doammuslims) August 9, 2016

In a rare piece of positive news to come from the embattled country, the campaign was successful and yesterday she was safely evacuated to a hospital in Damascus where she will be receiving surgery.

Fadah Jassem, Ghina’s UK-based aunt, expressed relief on Twitter that her niece was able to leave for further treatment.

Thanks to every single person who helped us in getting Ghina's message out. It's thanks to you all that she is getting treatment #SaveGhina
— Fadah Jassem فداء (@FadahJassem) August 14, 2016

Ghina had been on her way to buy medicine for her mother in the besieged town of Madaya when she was hit by a sniper at a regime checkpoint. Her 8-year-old sister was also injured. The shot shattered her leg, leaving her in constant and excruciating pain.

Civilians trapped in Madaya have experienced a severe shortage of medical and aid supplies. The rebel-held town has been under siege by regime and Hezbollah forces for more than a year.