Syrian doctor Ossama Jari at a hospital in Mykolaiv. All photos: AFP
Syrian doctor Ossama Jari at a hospital in Mykolaiv. All photos: AFP
Syrian doctor Ossama Jari (L) examines a patient in a hospital in Mykolaiv, on March 12, 2022. - Jari is a Syrian doctor who flee from war from Damascus to Ukraine, now caught by another war. (Photo by BULENT KILIC / AFP)
Syrian doctor Ossama Jari (L) examines a patient in a hospital in Mykolaiv, on March 12, 2022. - Jari is a Syrian doctor who flee from war from Damascus to Ukraine, now caught by another war. (Photo by BULENT KILIC / AFP)
The Syrian ophthalmologist now finds himself in another conflict after Russia invaded Ukraine.
The Syrian ophthalmologist now finds himself in another conflict after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Dressed in shirt printed with nautical motifs, Dr Jari is still trying to treat patients at his clinic in the north-east Ingulski district of Mykolaiv.
Dressed in shirt printed with nautical motifs, Dr Jari is still trying to treat patients at his clinic in the north-east Ingulski district of Mykolaiv.
Mykolaiv, a city of about 500,000, stands in the way of Russia's campaign to take the Black Sea port of Odesa.
Mykolaiv, a city of about 500,000, stands in the way of Russia's campaign to take the Black Sea port of Odesa.
Dr Jari was forced to seek shelter with other staff and patients in a basement during the merciless bombardment of the city on Friday night and early Saturday morning.
Dr Jari was forced to seek shelter with other staff and patients in a basement during the merciless bombardment of the city on Friday night and early Saturday morning.

MENA

Doctor who escaped Syrian war now treats patients in Ukraine

Dr Ossama Jari says 'Syria and Ukraine are in the same situation now'

AFP

March 14, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: follow the latest news on Russia-Ukraine

Syrian doctor Ossama Jari fled Damascus in 2014 to find peace with his Ukrainian wife in the Black Sea port of Mykolaiv. But now war, and Russian bombs, have caught up with him.

In an ophthalmology clinic in the north-east Ingulski district of the city, Dr Jari huddled for safety with other staff and patients in a basement filled with mattresses and jerry cans of water during the merciless bombardment in the night from Friday to Saturday.

While no deaths were reported, windows were blown out, the ground was pockmarked with shell and the neighbourhood boiler room was hit.

“I couldn't believe it,” said Dr Jari. “We were living peacefully here. What are the Russians doing? From what are they trying to save us? From themselves?”

Not really dressed for work — kitted out in a shirt printed with nautical motifs — Dr Jari was still trying to treat patients, his eyes weary behind his glasses.

It is a particularly cruel twist of fate for the doctor who had been forced to flee his war-torn homeland during the civil war there, where Russia intervened in 2015 to prop up the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

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Dr Jari and his wife — whom he met while he was studying medicine in Ukraine — fled the Syrian capital “to find peace” in Mykolaiv.

But the war followed them.

“Syria and Ukraine are in the same situation now,” he said. “War is war, whether it's over there, here or somewhere else, and it's the worst thing you can imagine.”

But he would not be drawn on political matters.

“The Russians? Their government? I don't want to talk about it.”

Dr Jari went upstairs to check on a few patients.

Among them was a 14-year-old boy called Timur, watched over by his mother Natalia Malichka.

Police officers detain a woman in central Moscow, during a protest against Russian military action in Ukraine. AFP
Police officers detain a woman in central Moscow, during a protest against Russian military action in Ukraine. AFP
Children look at phones as people who fled the conflict in Ukraine wait outside an immigration office in Brussels, Belgium. Reuters
Children look at phones as people who fled the conflict in Ukraine wait outside an immigration office in Brussels, Belgium. Reuters
Soldiers stand next to a bus with a damaged windscreen, after an attack on the Yavoriv military base, in Novoyavorivsk, Ukraine. Reuters
Soldiers stand next to a bus with a damaged windscreen, after an attack on the Yavoriv military base, in Novoyavorivsk, Ukraine. Reuters
A soldier waits at a hospital after the attack on the Yavoriv military base. Reuters
A soldier waits at a hospital after the attack on the Yavoriv military base. Reuters
A wounded soldier is transported by medical workers, at a hospital in Novoyavorivsk, after the attack on the Yavoriv military base. Reuters
A wounded soldier is transported by medical workers, at a hospital in Novoyavorivsk, after the attack on the Yavoriv military base. Reuters
Rescuers work at the site of an accident after a bus that was carrying about 50 Ukrainian refugees overturned near Forli, central Italy. One person died in the crash. AFP
Rescuers work at the site of an accident after a bus that was carrying about 50 Ukrainian refugees overturned near Forli, central Italy. One person died in the crash. AFP
A man wounded in the air strikes at a nearby military complex is assisted by medical staff outside Novoiavorivsk District Hospital. Getty Images
A man wounded in the air strikes at a nearby military complex is assisted by medical staff outside Novoiavorivsk District Hospital. Getty Images
Paramedics find low ground after an air-raid siren sounds on the outskirts of Novoiavorivsk. Getty Images
Paramedics find low ground after an air-raid siren sounds on the outskirts of Novoiavorivsk. Getty Images
A view of a residential building damaged during an air strike, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Chernihiv, Ukraine. Reuters
A view of a residential building damaged during an air strike, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in Chernihiv, Ukraine. Reuters
A tram damaged by shelling sits at a depot, in Kharkiv. AP
A tram damaged by shelling sits at a depot, in Kharkiv. AP
An abandoned doll next to a car riddled with bullets in Irpin, north of Kyiv. AFP
An abandoned doll next to a car riddled with bullets in Irpin, north of Kyiv. AFP
A Ukrainian soldier holds a Next Generation Light Anti-tank Weapon that was used to destroy a Russian armoured personal carrier in Irpin. AFP
A Ukrainian soldier holds a Next Generation Light Anti-tank Weapon that was used to destroy a Russian armoured personal carrier in Irpin. AFP
Residents try to strengthen the wall of a house damaged by recent shelling, on the outskirts Kyiv. AFP
Residents try to strengthen the wall of a house damaged by recent shelling, on the outskirts Kyiv. AFP
Firefighters extinguish a blaze at a house after shelling in Kyiv. AFP
Firefighters extinguish a blaze at a house after shelling in Kyiv. AFP
A convoy of pro-Russian troops outside the separatist-controlled town of Volnovakha in the Donetsk region, Ukraine. Reuters
A convoy of pro-Russian troops outside the separatist-controlled town of Volnovakha in the Donetsk region, Ukraine. Reuters
Smoke from shelling rises behind a wreath at a cemetery in Vasylkiv, south-west of Kyiv. AP
Smoke from shelling rises behind a wreath at a cemetery in Vasylkiv, south-west of Kyiv. AP
A woman stands outside a local hospital, damaged during fighting in Volnovakha. Reuters
A woman stands outside a local hospital, damaged during fighting in Volnovakha. Reuters
People gather in the basement of a local hospital, which was damaged during clashes in Volnovakha. Reuters
People gather in the basement of a local hospital, which was damaged during clashes in Volnovakha. Reuters
A Ukrainian soldier leaves a damaged building after shelling in Kyiv. AFP
A Ukrainian soldier leaves a damaged building after shelling in Kyiv. AFP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. AFP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. AFP
A finance police officer boards Russian billionaire Andrey Igorevich Melnichenko's superyacht, which has been sequestered at the northern port of Trieste, Italy. Reuters
A finance police officer boards Russian billionaire Andrey Igorevich Melnichenko's superyacht, which has been sequestered at the northern port of Trieste, Italy. Reuters
A Russian KA-52 gunship strikes a Ukrainian military object. AFP
A Russian KA-52 gunship strikes a Ukrainian military object. AFP
Bystanders watch what appears to be Russian forces arresting Ivan Fedorov, mayor of Melitopol, a city in south-eastern Ukraine. Reuters
Bystanders watch what appears to be Russian forces arresting Ivan Fedorov, mayor of Melitopol, a city in south-eastern Ukraine. Reuters
Firefighters battle a blaze at a warehouse storing frozen products hit by shelling in Kvitneve, Kyiv region. Reuters
Firefighters battle a blaze at a warehouse storing frozen products hit by shelling in Kvitneve, Kyiv region. Reuters
A soldier loads the cargo hold of a chartered Boeing 747 airplane with duffle bags belonging to US soldiers, during their deployment to Europe, at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia. AP
A soldier loads the cargo hold of a chartered Boeing 747 airplane with duffle bags belonging to US soldiers, during their deployment to Europe, at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia. AP
Two young girls pray for peace in Ukraine at Lisbon's 16th century Jeronimos Monastery. AP Photo
Two young girls pray for peace in Ukraine at Lisbon's 16th century Jeronimos Monastery. AP Photo
A volunteer of the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Forces walks on the debris of a car wash destroyed by Russian bombing in Baryshivka, east of Kyiv. AP Photo
A volunteer of the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Forces walks on the debris of a car wash destroyed by Russian bombing in Baryshivka, east of Kyiv. AP Photo
Volunteers pass an improvised path under a destroyed bridge as they help an elderly resident in Irpin, north-west Kyiv. AP Photo
Volunteers pass an improvised path under a destroyed bridge as they help an elderly resident in Irpin, north-west Kyiv. AP Photo
A woman who was evacuated from Irpin kisses a cat wrapped in a blanket at a triage point in Kyiv. AP Photo
A woman who was evacuated from Irpin kisses a cat wrapped in a blanket at a triage point in Kyiv. AP Photo
An explosion is seen in an apartment building after a Russian army tank fires in Mariupol. AP Photo
An explosion is seen in an apartment building after a Russian army tank fires in Mariupol. AP Photo
A Russian army tank moves through a street on the outskirts of Mariupol. AP Photo
A Russian army tank moves through a street on the outskirts of Mariupol. AP Photo
Tonya Steyn, office manager and volunteer co-ordinator, sorts through medical supplies at the non-governmental organisation, SOS International headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky. AFP
Tonya Steyn, office manager and volunteer co-ordinator, sorts through medical supplies at the non-governmental organisation, SOS International headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky. AFP
An overview of damaged buildings and burning fuel storage tanks at Antonov Airport in Hostomel, north-west of Kyiv. Maxar Technologies / AFP
An overview of damaged buildings and burning fuel storage tanks at Antonov Airport in Hostomel, north-west of Kyiv. Maxar Technologies / AFP
The destroyed main building of school number 25, after being bombed in Zhytomyr. EPA
The destroyed main building of school number 25, after being bombed in Zhytomyr. EPA
A supporter holds a sign to support Ukraine during Paris' mayor and 'Socialist party' (PS) presidential candidate's campaign meeting in Rennes, western France. AFP
A supporter holds a sign to support Ukraine during Paris' mayor and 'Socialist party' (PS) presidential candidate's campaign meeting in Rennes, western France. AFP

In the first days of the war, Timur got a splinter in his eye while cutting wood with his grandfather.

Unable to get to hospital immediately because no buses were running, the teenager's eye got worse.

Timur remains silent as his mother, shaking, says she is also worried about her two other sons, aged 10 and 20, at home.

“When I'm here with Timur, I know that my baby is at home, and I don't know if I'll see him again. I'm torn,” Ms Malichka says.

She and the two other boys were at home when the district was shelled.

“I was reassured because I knew that Timur was in the basement of the hospital with the doctors. But despite that, he called me, he was terrified.”

“Everything was shaking,” said the hospital's director Krasimira Rilkova, who looked as exhausted as Dr Jari.

“We didn't know if we would find the hospital still standing when we came back up from the basement.”

Mykolaiv, a city of about 500,000, stands in the way of Russia's campaign to take the Black Sea port of Odessa.

For several days now, Ukrainian forces have managed to hold off the besieging Russian troops.

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