Al Jazeera: A Lifeline for Millions Dr. Mohammed Al-Hemyari | EP of News, Al Jazeera Mubasher
Amid our extensive coverage of the 2010 Copiapó mining accident in Chile, where 33 miners were trapped 700 metres underground, my desk phone rang. I picked it up and the caller was a woman screaming in Arabic: “My three children and I are left in the open for days. We are more important than any other event Al Jazeera is covering.” I paused for a few seconds, then wondered why that woman was paying for a long-distance call to Al Jazeera rather than dialling the toll-free emergency number in her country.
“How can we help you, Madame?” I asked. “I want to send an appeal to our president through your screen. My husband kicked us out. I have no place to go but Al Jazeera,” she replied. “We will not let you down. We can call the husband to talk him down,” I said. “He will not listen, only the president can,” she added.
282
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter