From Turkey to Siena: a new life for Mustafa and Munzir thanks to Siena Awards photo

Arriving in Siena today will be Mustafa and Munzir, the protagonists of the overall winning photo of the SIPA, Siena International Photo Awards 2021, taken by Mehmet Aslan that has toured the world and made possible the long and complex course of treatment that will give them a new life.

Mustafa (6 years old) and Munzir (35 years old) are victims of the very serious consequences of the war in Syria: the father lost a leg as a result of a bombing, while the little boy was born without arms and legs as a result of a chemical attack involving his mother Zeynep when she was pregnant. The world came to know Mustafa and Munzir’s story thanks to Turkish photographer Mehmet Aslan ’s shot that won SIPA 2021, sparking a major mobilization. A fundraiser promoted by Siena Awards on the GoFundMe platform has started, which, to date, has raised more than 100,000 euros and is still open to continue helping Mustafa’s family and contribute to the care of father and son at the Vigorso Prosthesis Center in Budrio. In fact, the latter will be in charge of the prosthetic surgeries. Upon their arrival in Siena, the family will have to comply with a ten-day quarantine required by anti-Covid regulations before starting the integration and treatment process.

The Siena Awards would like to thank the thousands of people who were deeply affected by the photo and all those who contributed to the fundraiser, which is still open on the GoFundMe platform. Heartfelt thanks for the cooperation shown from the beginning to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, through the Italian Embassy in Ankara; to the Visa Unit in Rome; to the Ministry of Justice; and to the jury of SIPA 2021 who awarded the photo and motivated the choice with emotionally charged judgments; to Dr. Andrea Causarano who contacted the Vigorso Prosthesis Center in Budrio, and, in particular, to Cardinal Augusto Paolo Lojudice, Archbishop of Siena, Colle di Val d’Elsa and Montalcino, who took personal action to facilitate the family’s reception and integration upon arrival in Siena.

Accompanying the care and integration of the family arriving from Turkey will be the Fondazione Opera Diocesana Senese per la Carità onlus, a nonprofit branch of Caritas Diocesana di Siena, Colle di Val d’Elsa and Montalcino, which will guarantee the family’s hospitality and integration in Italy; the Vigorso di Budrio Prosthesis Center, and the municipalities of Budrio and Bologna, which will host the family during Mustafa and Munzir’s stay and treatment at the Prosthesis Center.

From Turkey to Siena: a new life for Mustafa and Munzir thanks to Siena Awards photo

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