Human organs for sale, untold war on Syrian families

(Reporting by Faris Al Rifai; Translation by Dani Murad)

(Zaman Alwasl)- As the deteriorating circumstances and economic hardships take its toll on the swelling country, many Syrians are battling through displacement, trauma, financial difficulties and their fragmented lives.

Khaled Al Safi, a young man who had no choice but to offer one of his kidneys for sale on his Facebook page to whoever needs it, because he was in a disparate need for money.

Al Safi, who holds a degree in science, specifically devoted this courageous call to refugees or displaced persons, at a time when hundreds of Syrians have lost their kidneys or lives due to regime’s shells and bombardment.

In regard to the motives behind his courageous decision, Safi told Zaman Alwasl that " his friend’s father was injured by a shrapnel that led to the damage of one of his kidneys, and then lost his life because he did not find a donor and his other kidney had a deficit, while his son was helpless because he was wanted by the Syrian intelligence.

“And after a series of blood and tissue tests, I cried a lot because I could not help the father of my friend since our tissues and blood types did not match, but his story motivated me to donate one of my kidneys to those who need it most”, he added.

In terms of the emotional complexities that follow this sacrifice, and what it means to make this decision on a personal level, Safi said: “when I offered to donate one of my kidneys, I understood that when I’m making this option, I might live with a heath deficit, but this deficiency can be the reason for the life of a whole family”.

“I believe that death and life are not our own but belong to Allah, and to be a human is to live with a deficiency in order to complete the lives of others, and this is perfection in itself. I had received many letters and once the testes are done and I find a poor and oppressed person who is in real need for my kidney, I will do that because we are all slaves of God”.

When asked if he had conducted medical tests to prove that he is healthy enough, Safi said: “frankly, my body so fragile and not qualified for this surgery, which according to the doctors has 60% risk, but I am convinced that one of us might die in order for Syria to live.