Update On Southall Black Sisters Appeal For Acid Attack Survivors
An email I received:
We want to thank you for your generous donations which to date have amounted to £28,000 (including giftaid of almost £4000). This has enabled Samar and Juwariya, the two sisters who were blinded and burnt beyond recognition in an acid attack carried out by a vengeful, rejected suitor, to continue with their medical treatment. It has facilitated three visits to the Chennai hospital which specialises in ophthalmology. Unfortunately, their medical opinion is that Juwariya will not regain her sight but Samar is awaiting an operation to insert a lens in one of her eyes which will allow limited vision. Samar had to have cosmetic surgery to prevent her cheek under that eye from collapsing as it was pulling the eye down and the doctors felt that the lens would not work if the eye was drooping. The funds have also enabled regular monthly purchases of medication and dressings and the employment of a personal care assistant to look after the sisters.
On the legal front, the perpetrator has applied for bail 4 times which has been refused each time, which is good news. The case has reached the high court and they are currently awaiting an independent medical report on the sisters which has been requested by the defence lawyers. The bureaucratic manner in which the wheels of justice move in India have had an impact on the sisters’ ability to pursue their medical treatment as efficiently as they would have liked.
SBS is itself facing financial difficulties and in the process of launching its own appeal for funds. In order to avoid confusion, we intend to close this appeal by the end of February. We would urge all of you who have not donated so far to give as generously as you can in the next fortnight (by clicking on the link below) as we still have a long way to go to reach our original target of £250,000,
Best wishes
Rahila Gupta
On behalf of Southall Black Sisters Trust
Same Difference 