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Wednesday 24 May 2017

Manchester Syrians shocked, appalled by horrific attack—Syrian doctors were among first-line responders

Rethink Rebuild Society

Manchester’s Syrian community unequivocally condemns the senseless and horrific attack which took place on 22 May in Manchester Arena. We are shocked that such a brutal act could be carried in our tolerant, open, and diverse city of Manchester, the city that welcomed us with open arms when we fled from Assad’s terrorism in Syria.

Manchester Syrian residents at the 23 May Manchester vigil in Albert Square.

At least six Syrian doctors (A&E, Orthopaedic, and General Surgery) from three hospitals in Manchester and Lancashire were among the front-line responders to the 22 May attack: Dr. Mohammed Almorie (A&E); Dr. Ahmad Khaled (Trauma and Orthopaedics); Dr. Mounir Hakimi (Orthopaedics); Dr. Ayman Jundi (A&E); and two other doctors who did not wish to be named (Orthopaedics and General Surgery).

Dr. Ahmad Khaled, Orthopaedics Registrar, was one of the front-line responders to this week’s attack. He said, ‘I received a call on Tuesday 2:30 am asking if I could come and help in assessing and treating those multiply injured patients as a result of the horrific attack. As a Syrian Doctor—most doctors will do the same—I felt that it was my duty to help in alleviating the significant pain of those casualties surgically alongside my colleagues from all backgrounds. My heart goes to all of those whom I have been involved in the care of as well as all other victims and their families.’

Dr. Mounir Hakimi, a British Syrian Orthopeadic Surgeon, will be operating on a victim of the Manchester attack in Lancashire. Dr. Hakimi is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Syria Relief (a Manchester-based Syrian charity) and has travelled numerous times to Syria to treat victims of terror in the country. His reaction to the Manchester terror attack: ‘I have been treating shrapnel wounds in Syria for the past six years. I never imagined that I would one day be doing the same following an attack in the UK. As a Syrian doctor, it grieves me to see the immense physical and psychological traumas which result from such attacks and I grieve for all of the victims and their families, friends, loved ones, and communities.’

Dr. Yasmine Nahlawi, Research & Policy Coordinator at Rethink Rebuild Society, says on the attack: ‘We grieve for the loss of those killed in this week’s attack and our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones. As Syrians we condemn all such attacks as violence can only breed more violence.’

Rethink Rebuild Society has established itself as a non-profit organisation that acts as an umbrella for the British Syrian community, and endeavours to clarify the Syrian cause to its audience in the UK and the wider public.