Al Jazeera: A Lifeline for Millions
I managed to get the number and called her husband in Syria from my own phone. Having introduced myself, the husband was delighted that Al Jazeera Mubasher was contacting him. I told him I was calling in goodwill from my personal phone number in order to mend fences between him and his family. “Your wife and children are your flesh and blood. They are your rock in this life; and you are the head of the family. I know life is tough, but they have no one else to turn to. Please let me lend a helping hand. I can personally help with your children’s school fees, if this is the problem,” I said. I left the coverage to a fellow producer for a while and kept negotiating with the husband for some time. Finally, his heart softened, and I breathed a sigh of relief when I heard him opening the door to his wife and children. They were all together under one roof. I later called them to fulfil the promise I had made. One of the three children has now graduated as an engineer and become a breadwinner in the family. I am not writing to brag. This incident had remained a secret and I honestly hesitated a lot before putting ink to paper. I simply acted out of the professional ethics Al Jazeera stands for. It was somehow an extraordinary situation, but I know for certain that Al Jazeera is a lifeline to the forgotten and the unheard. It is the spirit of Al Jazeera, the voice of the voiceless.
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