7-year-old Afghan Ahmed, a refugee from a camp in Calais, France saved his life and 14 others with the help of charity worker Liz Clegg. Child refugee Ahmed was some thousands of miles away from Liz Clegg when he sent a text to the health worker begging for help to save his life.
New York Post reports that Liz Clegg, who runs a women's and children's hospital in Calais, gives cellphones to refugee children who come through the camp to help keep them safe. Ahmed had been one of the refugee children to receive a cellphone from Liz Clegg and the other volunteers in Calais.
Liz Clegg was at a conference in New York City when she received the urgent text from Ahmed. The text message was in broken English, but Liz Clegg was able to sufficiently understand.
"I ned halp darivar no stap car no oksijan in the car no signal iam in the cantenar. Iam no jokan valla," Ahmed texted. The refugee's message was deciphered as follows: "I need help. The driver won't stop the car. No oxygen in the car. No signal. I'm in a container. I am not joking. I swear to God."
Liz Clegg immediately liaised with Tanya Freedman, who is a member of Help Refugees and is located in London. Freedman was quick to act upon the message passed on by Liz Clegg. Freedman contacted the authorities about Ahmed's life and death predicament.
Right now we desperately need more hands on deck in Calais. Have you got a few days to spare? Email volunteerincalais@gmail.com to register
— HelpRefugeesUK (@HelpRefugeesUK) 9 April 2016
According to RT, the authorities and a Pashto interpreter worked together to find out Ahmed's location. A trace revealed that Ahmed was in a truck in Leicestershire. When the authorities reached the truck, they discovered that 14 other refugees were with Ahmed and each one was close to suffocation.
The oxygen-deprived refugees were attempting to enter the U.K. illegally through the said truck. Freedman expressed her own admiration for Ahmed, who despite his young age, had the presence of mind to know that his life was in danger and found a way to seek the help that he and the other refugees needed.
Thousands of refugees as Ahmed have been displaced in recent times by war and violence in their countries. These refugees have been trying to seek asylum and find new homes and rebuild their lives. However, most of have them have been stuck in refugee camps such as the one in Calais, France.
