Alemitu Girma Hailu’s father Mamo Kacha and mother Sale Mankocha were finally able to give their daughter a proper funeral. The maid’s body was kept at a morgue for 62 days after her sponsor refused to bear the repatriation costs.

By Bassma Al Jandaly | Gulf News

Dubai, UAE – The family of an Ethiopian woman whose body lay in a Ras Al Khaimah morgue for over two months, said they were grateful to Gulf News readers for helping send their daughter’s body home.

The body of 19-year-old Alemintu Girma Hailu lay in the morgue of a Ras Al Khaimah hospital since September 9. It was finally sent home to Ethiopia on November 11.

Hailu’s family, which lives in a remote area in Ethiopia, said they suffered a lot during the two-month ordeal as they did not have the financial means to get her body back from the UAE.

Hailu had come to work for a family in Ras Al Khaimah, but fell ill after a few days of her arrival due to heat stroke.

She spent two months in the hospital in a coma before she died on September 9. Unfortunately, her body was left at the morgue for 62 days because her sponsor refused to shoulder the cost of visa cancellation and repatriation.

Gulf News readers stepped in to help after the maid’s story was reported in the newspaper.

Hailu’s father Mamo Kacha and her mother Sele Mankocha are very grateful.

In a letter sent from Ethiopia, Kacha said: “We are poor and were not able to offer her any help. But Gulf News readers extended a helping hand to us at this difficult time.

“Though we are deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved daughter, we have no words to express how grateful we feel for all the financial and other support we received.”

The letter adds: “Though the unfortunate loss of our daughter abroad was hard to bear, we are deeply touched by the support extended by everyone who empathised with us like close family members.

“We thank you all for your assistance in getting our daughter’s body to us and arranging the funeral in her homeland.

“Words are not enough to appreciate all the generous comforting we received. It has truly helped us cope with our loss. May Allah repay you for your kindness and may our daughter rest in peace,” said the father.

Hailu’s mother said that like any mother she spent long sad days and nights while her daughter was ill in hospital and when her body was abandoned in the morgue.

“I just wonder how humans sometimes have no feelings, and can be cruel and heartless. We just wish her sponsor would tell us why he allowed her body to be kept in morgue for 62 days. Why no one helped my little daughter…” she said.

She said Gulf News readers came as a blessing from God to wash away their tears and doubts. “They brought my daughter home and made me understand that Allah never abandons his creatures, no matter how long they suffer.

“Despite my pain, I am forgive those who let our daughter suffer in life and in death,” Sele said.