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Tears flow liberally as `Arafat` is laid to rest
2007-06-17 09:51:20
By The Guardian on Sunday Reporter
Tears streamed liberally from the eyes of young and old people from various stations of life, as the limb-less toddler named after the late Palestinian militant and politician, Yasser Arafat, was laid to rest at his Kibiti home in Coast Region`s Rufiji District yesterday.
Beyond parental and broader family circles, the Palestinian Ambassador to Tanzania, Yusuf Habab, was one of the most grief-stricken.
The diplomat, who was virtually a guardian angel to Arafat Bakari Mshamu Mwangosongo, was by the toddler`s bedside at the Aga Khan hospital in Dar es Salaam, when he died on Friday evening.
The parents of the boy, Bakari Mshamu and Hawa Kassim, linked up with Ambassador Habab to form a tearful trio immediately after a doctor had certified young Arafat dead - a victim of malaria.
The toddler, who the diplomat was supporting materially, financially and emotionally, alongside his parents, evoked sympathy from several people within and beyond Tanzania.
They were deeply touched by his rare form of disability - the lack of arms and legs, prompting round-the-clock nursing and care.
In the same vein, however, neighbours, fellow villagers and the broader community as a whole marvelled at the boy`s strong spirit of endurance in spite of the odds.
Arafat, whose body was often fitted in a specially designed support to avail him relative comfort and convenience, was charming and friendly, and hardly showed signs of being aware of his predicament - or probably did but took it all in stride.
The profile of the mourners at his burial - Ambassador Habab, neighbours, village-mates, government officials and civil society representatives demonstrated the extent to which Arafat was loved, pitied, admired and missed when he died.
Arafat was initially treated at Mchukwi Health Centre in Kibiti before being transferred to Aga Khan hospital last week.
The Guardian Limited, through its newspapers, brought Arafat`s plight to the public, which responded with various forms of material and financial assistance.
``Looking at Arafat one was likely to be filled with tears as the little limbless kid struggled to play with his folk and fellow children,`` recalls staff photographer Khalfan Said, whose photographs told the Arafat story forcefully, yet sadly.
Arafat`s parents, an incredibly strong-willed couple, told our reporter during a visit to their home last year that their son`s condition did not upset them because it was the will of God.
Their only concern was lack of resources to facilitate specialised treatment for the boy, and sought the assistance of good samaritans.
Arafat was born on 11 November 2006 at Kibiti Hospital in Rufiji District, Coast Region.
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