Iraqi boy who lost arms needs specialist treatment to save life

MEDICAL staff treating an Iraqi boy who lost both his arms in a coalition bombing have said he may die unless he is immediately flown out for specialist treatment.

A nurse at the Saddam City hospital in Baghdad where Ali Ismail Abbas, aged 12, is being treated, issued a direct plea to coalition leaders.

Fatin Sharhah’s letter to US President George W Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair read: “The situation is desperate. He will die if he stays.”

Both of Ali’s parents were killed in last week’s attack on his home in Baghdad, in which he was also severely burned. Pictures of Ali in his hospital bed were transmitted around the world.

“You have all this technology to bomb us... but you cannot spare one aircraft for one day to save a life?”

Ms Sharhah’s letter said Ali’s condition was deteriorating every day. She said unless Ali received special care he could die of blood poisoning.

“Please send one of your helicopters or planes,” she wrote. “You have all this technology to bomb us, to make the missile that burned Ali’s house, but you cannot spare one aircraft for one day to save a life?”

However, a spokeswoman for the UK’s Ministry of Defence said Baghdad was under US control. The US was co-operating with the Red Cross, while Ali was outside of British jurisdiction, she said.

A Downing Street spokeswoman said they had yet to receive the letter asking for Ali to be airlifted to the UK and would respond when they did.

A number of British newspapers have set up funds to help Ali and other victims of the war, while British amputees have launched the Ali Fund.

The Ali Fund, a joint venture by the Limbless Association and UK conservative politician Caroline Spelman, has received at least $80,000.

The Daily Mirror’s fund has raised another $150,000. Payment for Ali’s treatment has also been pledged by the Maharani of Jaipur.