Global Women's Voices: Share Personal Stories

Adla, Palestinian Auth. Areas

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Newborn of Abdel Al-Jabar (mustafa)Adla Abdel Jaber As-Sayyefi, 37 years old, went into labour at around 3am on the morning of December 10th, 2002 Her husband spoke to the Red Crescent requesting an ambulance, but the ambulance was unable to reach their village of Tel because of the trenches and checkpoints and suggested instead the ambulance and the family and Adla, meet at another checkpoint of Beit Eba.Adla's husband borrowed a car from the neighbors, and Adla, her father in law Muhammad, mother in law, and her mother, went to meet the ambulance.

However, when they came within sight of the checkpoint a tank was blocking the path, and so in the dark and rain they tried to attract the attention of the soldiers in the tank. The lights of the ambulance were clear on the other side of the checkpoint and the Muhammad beeped the horn, and the ambulance turned on its siren, but still the soldiers in the tank made no moves.

Finally, Muhammad got out of the car and shouted to the soldiers that Adla needed to get to the hospital and to let them pass - but still the soldiers refused to respond. Too terrified to try to pass, 74-year-old Muhammad turned the car around and began to return to the village, but after only ten meters or so Adla gave birth; however the baby died.

Source:www.upmrc.org

updated: 7/2/2004