The badly injured 12-year-old Iraqi boy who came arrived in Taipei for treatment for injuries caused by US bombs said "thank you" in Chinese to the nation yesterday for the care and attention given since he arrived two days ago.
"I am grateful for the care provided by Taiwan and the opportunity to get treated," Khaldon-Kh-Thiab told reporters through his translator, Imam Ma Hsiao-chi (
"I am happy and I thank Allah," he said.
The young boy looked nervous in front of the cameras, but he waved and smiled and tried to say "thank you" and "I love you" in Chinese.
Khaldon-Kh-Thiab lost his right hand and left foot in a US bombing raid during the recent war in the Persian Gulf.
The Eden Social Welfare Foundation arranged for the boy and his father to come to Taiwan and he is scheduled to stay here for two months for treatment at Far Eastern Memorial Hospital.
When asked whether he was scared of the upcoming treatment, the plucky young boy showed plenty of courage.
"I do not feel any fear because all Iraqis are very brave. I look forward to being cured, and reunited with my family and friends soon," he said.
The Muslim holy month of Ramadan started yesterday in Taiwan and will last until the end of next month.
Observant Muslims do not eat, drink or smoke during the day during Ramadan.
According to an Eden spokeswoman, that has made eating arrangements for Khaldon-Kh-Thiab tricky.
The Taipei Grand Mosque, however, has agreed to cater for him to ensure he can stick to Muslim traditions.
The Eden spokeswomen said that Ramadan was also a time for families to be together, but Khaldon-Kh-Thiab's father decided that his son's condition was sufficiently urgent for the boy to seek immediate treatment.
Khaldon-Kh-Thiab received his first check-up at the hospital yesterday, with doctors agreeing that he could be given an artificial leg.
Doctors said that, with a prosthesis, he should be able to walk normally.
However, the doctors said they needed more time to decide on how to treat his injured right hand, which was more seriously damaged.
According to the Eden spokeswoman, the hospital hopes to finish the boy's treatment before Dec. 25.
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