ATLANTA — A little girl from Gaza is in Atlanta for medical care after surviving a bombing that killed most of her family. Her caretakers asked us not to share Habiba’s last name, but she’s 12 years old.
She arrived at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport Saturday to a sea of smiling faces.
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Through an interpreter, Habiba told Channel 2′s Courtney Francisco, “I’m very happy to be here. I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time.”
War forced Habiba to leave her father behind and escape her home with her mother and sister.
“They were displaced to safe areas, that were supposed to be safe areas,” said her interpreter, Ghada Elnajjar. “They lived in tents.”
In January, an air strike over the safe zone killed Habiba’s mom, her sister, her uncle and four of her cousins.
Search crews found Habiba alive the next day with burns on her body and severe abdomen and head injuries. Her aunt, Heyam, made it her mission to find Habiba help and discovered a humanitarian organization called Heal Palestine.
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“We had a team on the ground in Egypt who was made aware of her injuries,” said Tamara Quadri. “We just started scurrying and working to find a hospital that was willing to give her treatment pro bono.”
They were able to find that free help in Atlanta. Doctors here will perform surgery on her skull. Her first appointment is next week.
“It was a miracle, and it felt like a difficult dream that came true,” said Heyam.
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Families from across the Atlanta area showed up to greet her at the airport Saturday afternoon.
The crowd erupted into cheers when police escorted her out of customs in a wheelchair. Her aunt was by her side.
“I am so happy,” said Heyam.
Habiba said she was a little overwhelmed, but she was anxious to play with the kids she noticed in the crowd and believes she is ready for treatment.
“I hope that I will recover well and that I will heal after. I look forward to it,” said Habiba.
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