This must have been a horrible experience full of distress for the pregnant woman in labor, a young refugee from Syria. She survived the risky sail in the waters between Turkey and Greece on a rubber boat, while the labor had already started. A few minutes after she landed at the shore near Molyvos on Lesvos island, the baby had enough from the waves, the jolt and the long journey through the Middle East and the Aegean Sea and pushed its way to the world.
The labor on the beach was assisted by members of international organizations, volunteers and some other refugee women. Soon after, the mother and the new born, a boy, were transferred to the island hospital. Both mother and son are in good health condition.
Mother & baby born last night at beach on Lesbos, Greece safe & healthy at hospital, baby boy. Mabrook! pic.twitter.com/BheeGgCG4d
— Peter Bouckaert (@bouckap) October 14, 2015
The rest of her family, her husband and her older child were allowed to visit them in the hospital on Thursday.
According to state ERT TV, the labor had already started while the woman was still on the Turkish shore, but that the smugglers forced her and her family to get on the boat.
The news was first published on social media by Peter Bouckaert, Emergency Director at Human Rights Watch, focusing on protecting the rights of civilians during armed conflict.
Syrian woman gave birth on beach after arriving in rubber boat on Lesbos this afternoon. Mother & baby boy OK pic.twitter.com/im0TnuJjA4
— Peter Bouckaert (@bouckap) October 13, 2015
I feel so bad about the difficulties, which the young mother had to go through… Terrible situation! There is so much blame to go around!