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Syrian girl wounded by militant fire delivered to Moscow for treatment

On April 16, ten-year-old Sidra Zaarour with her parents and sisters came under fire opened by terrorists who used self-made mortars firing gas bottles
Children walking down a street in Aleppo, Syria Alexander Kots/Komsomolskaya Pravda via AP, File
Children walking down a street in Aleppo, Syria
© Alexander Kots/Komsomolskaya Pravda via AP, File

MOSCOW, June 2. /TASS/. The ten-year-old Syrian girl who lost both legs as gunmen were shelling Aleppo’s residential areas has been delivered to Moscow for treatment and rehabilitation, the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry told reporters on Thursday.

According to the Defense Ministry, relatives of 10-year-old Sidra Zaarour got in touch with the Russian military in Syria asking to arrange the girl’s treatment and rehabilitation at a medical institution in Russia.

"Russian Defense Minister Army General Sergei Shoigu decided to send a military transport plane with a doctor-nurse team to Syria for the girl’s aeromedical evacuation to Moscow," the Defense Ministry said.

On April 16, Sidra Zaarour with her parents and sisters came under fire opened by terrorists who used self-made mortars firing gas bottles.

"Militants call such self-made mortars ‘infernal machines,’ as they have huge destructive power. The girl’s three-year-old nephew and elder sister died in the fire attack with the use of such self-made mortars right in front of her eyes. Sidra Zaarouf herself lost both legs in the explosion," the Defense Ministry said, adding that Syrian doctors did their utmost to save the girl’s life. However, the child who sustained severe physical and psychological traumas needs further treatment and rehabilitation.

"On Wednesday, June 1, Sidra Zaarour was promptly delivered to Moscow aboard the Ilyushin Il-76 military transport aircraft equipped with a special aeromedical unit. Throughout the flight specialists from a team of highly-qualified military medical personnel from the Burdenko Main Military Clinical Hospital and the Vishnevsky Central Military Clinical Hospital monitored the girl's condition," the Defense Ministry said.

It noted that the girl had been delivered to the Russian Children’s Clinical Hospital for treatment and rehabilitation.