Doha: Baby Maryam’s gaze was right into the eyes of her siblings… She slowly smiled from inside her face covered with unfamiliarity. 21-month-old Maryam began to bond with her siblings as she played among the balloons and toys that floated nearby… Her uncle, Yar Muhammad Niazi, was watching the reunion of the children with tears in his eyes.
The other day, Dhriyama Orphanage in Doha witnessed a rare reunion. The moment Maryam, who was still months away from turning two, and her two siblings and uncle became one after a year and a half.
Muhammad Niazi’s voice breaks when he starts telling the story of Maryam and his brothers. Words will falter and be cut off from memories that are bloodied. That day was August 26, 2021. Theirs was one of thousands of Afghan families arriving at Kabul’s airport to flee Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power at the end of the conflict-ridden days. The goal of the parents who came with three-week-old Maryam (then called Alisa) and her three siblings was to leave the country. But all the dreams were shattered in a fatal explosion.
Maryam’s parents were among the 183 killed by the suicide bomber who rushed to the thousands hoping to board the American military plane and get out of Afghanistan. At the moment of disaster, everyone was scattered. During this race, a teenager ran into an American military plane carrying a one-month-old baby Maryam. The plane took off from Kabul and landed in Doha. Thus, Maryam became the youngest of the Afghans who became refugees and became the darling of Qatar. The authorities raised her with care and treatment. Dreama Orphanage under the Qatar Foundation under the patronage of Sheikha Mousa bint Nasser became her new home.
The authorities were looking for Maryam’s family after the conflict in Afghanistan. In collaboration with the United Nations UNICEF, the investigation into missing children in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, uncle Niazi was in Kabul with his three children who had lost their parents after the blast. Although he recognized the victims, he was trying to find Kunju Maryam. She was not found even after visiting hospitals and other places. It is reported to the UN agency after two months of waiting. Based on what they reported to the Qatari authorities, efforts were made to identify them. The mission was to conduct DNA testing of the brothers. Children should be brought to Doha for that. It took more time for the children to get their passports and other documents from the new Taliban government to reach Doha.
Now, Niazi flew to Doha along with his wife and his four children along with Maryam’s sisters. Here, Maryam’s siblings were identified after DNA testing confirmed the similarity of the samples. Then, the children were given time to adjust to each other. With the help of social workers and counsellors, they slowly became close. They are now happy to have found their little sister who was thought to be lost along with her parents. He is busy playing Kurumpukari with balloons and toys.
Niazi no longer wants a return to Afghanistan. He will go to a place where he can live peacefully with eight children, including four orphans. Niazi told news agency AFP that everyone should come home safely. Many of the children in Qatar’s care were reunited with their parents and relatives. The three-year-old boy came with his father in Canada last year.
Most of the children in the orphanage were above the age of eight. Most of them came with their relatives. Others were adopted by families in Canada, the United States and Europe. After August 2021, around 10,000 Afghani families sought asylum in Qatar. Now they have all arrived in different countries.
Maryam’s loving sister