The continuing siege of East Ghouta, was perhaps the major, but not the only factor that blocked the conjoined twins from receiving emergency life-saving separation surgery. Narwas and Mou'az were in Damascus at Sinan hospital for nearly two weeks as their medical condition deteriorated and local and international humanitarian appeals for them to be allowed life-saving surgery abroad remained "under consideration."
The twins were the indirect victims of crimes of collective punishment, the baring of humanitarian access to civilians, the starvation of civilians, the use against civilians of unconventional improvised weapons and weapons systems, including but not limited to, poisonous gas, indiscriminate weapons including barrel, cluster and incendiary bombs, landmines and snipers, as well as the deliberate targeting of Hospitals and Clinics, Schools, Mosques, Churches and Synagogues, Public Markets and other Public Gatherings. All of which are outlawed by binding Treaty and Customary International Law (CIL).
During the morning of 8/19/2016 this observer met briefly with the Dr. of Narwas and Mou'az and the competent staff at Sinan Hospital. I agreed not to publish her name. She was obviously stressed. Her colleague said that the Dr. was upset because Sinan hospital could not perform the lifesaving operation and because of the long delays with arrangements for sending them abroad for medical help not available in Syria. As I stood outside the boys' intensive care unit, five heavily armed troops arrived with a plain clothes security official. We had an amicable discussion and the gentleman told me to help the babies get surgery abroad I must first contact X who was in charge of the babies' file and all cases involving foreign NGOs. The office of X was contacted more than once but there was no reply to emails or phone calls.
Narwas and Mou'az were blocked from leaving their "hospital prison" to travel to any number of hospitals abroad that were ready, able, and waiting to receive them with confidence that the boys could be saved. As critical days passed, the boys were kept on the second floor of the Sinan Hospital. Their bodies weakened and they began to gasp and struggle to live.
According to Ahmed Tarkji, President of SAMS, "The tragic death of these two brave souls could have easily been prevented, this is unacceptable!" Politics condemned the twins to an avoidable death.
This oberver will never forget seeing Mou'az holding the arm of his brother and smiling at him! This observer has no doubt that Sinan hospital has a fine, competent staff and that SARCS, the ICRC, UNOCHA and sundry NGOs also did heroically try to save "our boys". For in one sense Nawras and Mou'az Al-Hashash were "Every boys."
The regrettable fact remains that it was known that the boys would die if they continued to be "incarcerated in their hospital prison" as one Physician explained, "without being granted humanitarian release for life saving surgery abroad."
MSRCL was able to arrange for two plants which this observer was honored to plant and water, on either side of their grave, one for each twin and also to place some traditional Eid al Adha branches, which according to a Koranic Hadith, the Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) placed on the grave of his personal loved ones.However, these gestures are effectively only "feel good." And none of the efforts by many saved Nawras and Mou'az. I personally failed the boys. Surely there was more this observer could have done, while a guest in Syria, to help save them.
Two plants which this observer was honored to plant and water, on either side of their grave, one for each twin.
(Image by Franklin P. Lamb) Details DMCA
Near the end of my last visit and sitting with the twins at their gravesite and telling them about Gulliver's Travels, it began to get dark. A gentleman approached and warned me that the area was not safe at night and that I should leave quickly. So after singing softly to the boys, "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" which I like to think is their favorite song, I stood up to leave having no doubt that their protective aura would keep me safe en route back to Damascus.
In this observer's criminal law classes a long time ago and far away from Sinan Hospital, we learned at Boston University School of Law that Negligent Homicide is a criminal charge brought against those who, through their negligence, allow others to die. But given the context of the war in Syria and all the efforts by various local and regional parties to achieve military and/or political advantage from the precious conjoined twins' case, this observer's investigation leads him to conclude otherwise. That with respect to the twins deaths, a more compelling argument might be proffered to a yet-to-be-created international court, that Nawras and Mou'az Al-Hashash were victims of War Crimes.
Finger pointing will likely continue over who should be held accountable for the deaths of the conjoined innocents Narwas and Mou'az Al-Hashash as well as the countless thousands of other civilian victims of this war.
Let history judge and enforce accountability. But what is indisputable is that for the past five years the World has failed the people of Syria.
The Cemetery 'team'...lovely fellows...who I trust to look after the twins.
(Image by Franklin P. Lamb) Details DMCA
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