Six young children were orphaned last week after their father died of Covid-19, less than a month after their mother succumbed to the same disease.
The children, from Sudan, have since had to leave the flat they lived in with their parents in Al Taawun, Sharjah, to their cousin’s flat in Al Nuaimiya, Ajman.
Their mother, 37, died from complications related to coronavirus on April 25, the same day she was admitted to a Sharjah hospital.
On May 18, their father, Ahmed Al Tayyib, 57, followed suit after going into the same hospital 16 days prior. Both had pre-existing conditions that contributed to the deterioration of their health.
“They were both diabetic and my uncle’s wife also suffered from high blood pressure. Maybe a little more than month before his death, my uncle lost his toe to diabetes,” said Mohammed Hashim, 35.
"It was very difficult for the children to lose both parents within few days.
"It was also difficult for me losing my uncle just few weeks after losing an aunt in Sudan," said Mr Hashim, who works for a car rental company in Sharjah.
The family was called in for Covid-19 testing after the wife was buried, on April 27, and asked to self-isolate until they received their results.
"We were all in isolation and received condolences by phone, then the results came negative," said Mr Hashim, who has turned to faith to help with his grief.
"It is God's will that my uncle gets infected and, as believers, we accept their deaths with much faith."
Al Tayyib moved to the UAE in 1990 and married his wife 10 years later.
The family had been struggling financially, prior to the parents’ death.
A few years ago, Al Tayyib’s food supply business went under and he was forced to take on odd jobs to try support his family.
The children, aged between 18 and 5, have missed several years of school because their parents were unable to pay for tuition fees.
On Thursday, Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman, announced he would cover all living, educational and social expenses for the four girls and two boys, after their story made headlines and was widely shared on social media.
"I had no doubt the children will be cared for, it's just all I want for them is to be able to continue their education and life here especially that their life is here and three of them were born here," said Mr Hashim, who vows to care for the children to the best of his ability.
"My wife looks at them as a blessing from God and the more good we do them, the better God will do for us."
