Connect with us

Foreign News

Death of Moroccan boy trapped in well sparks outpouring of sympathy

Published

on

Share

The death of 5-year-old Rayan Awram in spite of a massive effort to rescue him from a deep well sparked an outpouring of sympathy on Sunday, from his village in northern Morocco to the Vatican, from King Mohammed to international football clubs.

The saga of the ultimately failed rescue attempt gripped the country and many people abroad for days.

Rayan fell into the well in Ighran village near the town of Chefchaouen on Tuesday and his body was finally pulled out late on Saturday, following an operation that involved cutting much of the adjacent hillside and then tunneling toward the bottom of the well to reach the child.

Many of the weary rescue workers and the hundreds of people who had gathered around the well hoping for good news burst into tears when they heard Rayan was dead.

“I heard people shout in jubilation after the boy was found thinking he was alive but then we learnt he was not. I never felt this sad,” an onlooker called Noureddine told Reuters.

The boy’s parents spoke to state Al Oula TV after their son’s body was recovered.

“This is God’s will. I thank all for their efforts to help,” Rayan’s mother Ouassima Kharchich said, her voice strained with grief and barely audible.

“We thank so much the people and authorities… who helped us,” the father, Khalid Awram, said.

King Mohammed expressed condolences to the parents in a phone call on Saturday night, a palace statement said.

It was not yet clear when the funeral would take place, but well-wishers travelled to the village on Sunday to offer condolences to the family.

“We feel that people are sorry, we are all sorry. We have no other choice.

“The father, the mother, the grandmothers and uncles.

c”May God give us patience,” an uncle of the child, Mohammed Kharshish, told Reuters TV on Sunday.

Pope Francis praised the people of Morocco for coming together to try to rescue the boy.

“The people clung together, as a whole, to save Rayan, they worked together to save a child,” the pope said during his weekly blessing in St. Peter’s Square. “(The rescuers) tried their best, unfortunately they did not make it,” he said.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he felt the pain of Rayan’s family and of Moroccans.

Soccer clubs including Liverpool FC, Manchester United, FC Barcelona and FC Sevilla also expressed condolences on their Arabic Twitter accounts. (Reuters/NAN)

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Foreign News

Mozambique’s Death Toll from Cyclone Chido Rises to 94- Reports

Published

on

Share

Mozambique’s disaster management agency announced that the death toll from Cyclone Chido has risen to 94.

The cyclone had made landfall in northern Mozambique a week ago and Mozambique’s institute for natural disasters on Thursday had given the death toll at 73.

The Indian Ocean archipelago Mayotte bore the brunt of the storm.

Officials in Mayotte, which is one of France’s poorest overseas territories, have only been able to confirm 35 fatalities from Chido, but some have said they fear thousands could have been killed.

Olamide Harrison, the International Monetary Fund’s Mozambique resident representative, said on Wednesday that the country’s 2024 economic growth would  likely be revised down from a previous forecast of 4.

3 per cent due to the impact of the cyclone and post-election civil unrest.

In October, Daniel Chapo, the candidate of Mozambique’s ruling party Frelimo, was declared winner of the presidential election. (Reuters/NAN)

Continue Reading

Foreign News

No talk of Ceasefire Deal Between Turkey, US-backed SDF in Northern Syria – Turkish Official

Published

on

Share

There is no talk of a ceasefire deal between Turkey and the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northern Syria, contrary to a U.S. announcement on the issue, a Turkish defence ministry official said on Thursday.

The official was responding to comments from State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, who said a ceasefire between Turkey and the SDF around the northern Syrian city of Manbij has been extended until the end of this week.

“As Turkey, it is out of the question for us to have talks with any terrorist organisation.

“The (U.S.) statement must be a slip of the tongue,” the defence ministry official, who was speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters.

Washington brokered an initial ceasefire between Turkey-backed Syrian rebels and the SDF forces last week after fighting that broke out earlier this month as rebel groups advanced on Damascus and overthrew Bashar al-Assad.

The SDF is an ally in the U.S. coalition against Islamic State militants.

It is spearheaded by the YPG, a group that Ankara sees as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants who have fought the Turkish state for 40 years.

Turkey regards the PKK, YPG and SDF as terrorist groups. The U.S. and Turkey’s Western allies list the PKK as terrorist, but not the YPG and the SDF.

When asked if Ankara was considering another ground operation into northern Syria, the official said that Turkey still sees a threat to its borders from north Syria.

“Our preparations and precautions as part of the fight against terrorism will continue until the PKK/YPG lays down its arms and its foreign fighters leave Syria,” the official said.

Since 2016, Turkey has mounted four military operations in northern Syria, citing national security threats.

Turkey believes that forces of the Syrian National Army paramilitary group which it backs will “liberate” YPG-controlled areas in northern Syria, the official said, signalling that Turkey does not plan an imminent operation into the region by its military.

The SDF have close ties with Western countries including the U.S. and France. Recently, France said the political transition in Syria needed to ensure that the SDF was represented. (Reuters/NAN)

Continue Reading

Foreign News

President Yoon Banned from Leaving South Korea

Published

on

Share

The South Korean Government ordered an overseas travel ban on President Yoon Suk Yeol.The South Korean news agency Yonhap reported on Monday that the travel ban is due to the ongoing investigation into Yoon, which involves suspicion of high treason.Yoon unexpectedly imposed martial law on his country last Tuesday night, but hours later, after massive political resistance, he repealed the order.

On Saturday evening, a motion by the opposition to impeach the president in parliament failed.
However, public pressure against the 63-year-old continues. (dpa/NAN)

Continue Reading

Read Our ePaper

Top Stories

NEWS5 hours ago

Delta Speaker urges Christians to Imbibe True Spirit of Christmas

ShareThe Speaker of Delta House of Assembly, Mr Dennis Guwor  has urged Christians to imbibe the true spirit of Christmas...

NEWS5 hours ago

Christmas: Let’s Look to Jesus for Hope and a Better Nigeria – CAN

ShareBy Laide Akinboade, Abuja   Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), had urged Nigerians to use this Christmas celebration to continue to...

NEWS5 hours ago

Road Construction: DRTS Cautions FCT Motorists Against Speeding

Share The Directorate of Road Transport Services (DRTS) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has warned motorists against speeding. DRTS...

NEWS5 hours ago

Christmas: I’m Optimistic of Nigeria’s Future –  Omo-Agege

ShareThe former Deputy Senate President,  Ovie Omo-Agege says he is optimistic about the future of Nigeria as he extends warm...

NEWS5 hours ago

Yuletide: Be Safety Cautious While Cooking- Former Fire Boss

ShareDr Ibrahim Liman, Former Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, has urged Nigerians to be safety cautious while cooking during...

National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON)
NEWS5 hours ago

2025 Hajj Operation: NAHCON Gets Acting Secretary

ShareProf. Saleh Usman, the executive Chairman, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), has approved the appointment of Alhaji Alidu Shutti...

NEWS5 hours ago

Adamawa NUJ Lauds Gov. Fintiri’s Achievements, Appreciates Members 

Share The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Adamawa Council on Wednesday lauded Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri’s achievements, acknowledging his welfare packages...

NEWS5 hours ago

NNPCL Unveils Production Monitoring Centre

ShareThe Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), has introduced the Production Monitoring Command Centre (PMCC) as a transformative step...

NEWS5 hours ago

Security Operatives Destroy Camp of Criminal Gang in Anambra

Share The police in Anambra and some security operatives have destroyed a camp suspected to be the abode of criminals...

NEWS5 hours ago

Gov. Sani Commissions 12 Roads in Kaduna 

ShareGov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State has inaugurated 12 newly constructed asphalt roads within Kaduna metropolis. Report says that the...

Copyright © 2021 Daily Asset Limited | Powered by ObajeSoft Inc