Update 2: Gaddafi's nanny arrives in Malta for treatment
Shwejga Mullah, the Ethiopian nanny who suffered major burns which were left untreated when Hannibal Gaddafi's wife Aline threw boiling water over her, arrived in Malta at 5.30 p.m.
Ms Mullar arrived in Malta on a Medavia charter plane funded by the Maltese government. The flight left from Misurata.
Coming down the aircraft with a bandaged head, she was given a bouquet of flowers from the Malta office of Global Relief Libya. She was taken straight to Mater Dei Hospital for treatment in a waiting ambulance.
The nanny was found alone in a room at the Gaddafi's seaside mansion too sick and weak to go to the doctor a few days ago.
She said she had been abused three months ago, when the couple's daughter would not stop crying and she refused to beat the child on Aline Gaddafi's orders.
She said that she was never paid in the year she spent working for the Gaddafis.
Malta's director of defence Vanessa Frazier said that Ms Mullah had been gracious on the flight and emotional for closing a chapter in her life that is Libya.
Asked whether she would be applying for asylum in Malta, Ms Frazier said that as Ms Mullah did not have a passport, arrangements were made to organise documentation for her from Cairo.
Once this documentation is sent, it would be up to Ms Mullah to decide what she should do. She has, however, told CNN she would like to return home to Ethiopia.
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Kaleb Molito
Oct 11th 2011, 10:01
I filled with tears seeing how Malta authorities honored this poor girl. God bless such a wonderful country with all His eternal blessings. I am an Ethiopian and I have ever never heard the name of this country before until I read this story. Right now, my heart is felt with love for Malta and its people :-) May the Lord abundantly bless this great nation.....
Ms D Galea
Sep 16th 2011, 15:17
Events like this make me feel proud to be Maltese. Ms Shwejga, you are most welcome here.Rest assured that here you are here amongst friends who are willing to help you to get better soon and get on with starting a new happier more fullfilled life.
Saleh Ahmed Mamme
Sep 16th 2011, 14:50
Kudos (prosit) for the Maltese people and their government. Once again, the so called Ethiopian government has proven that Ethiopia hasn't got government but brutal elites who never care for the people. While a tiny island has been doing such wonderful job, Mr. Zenawi and his puppets have done nothing to save a desperate lady. I'm not to exploit this for politics and I'm not political man, but I just felt ashamed and embarrassed when I see that we have been governed by the brutal regimes for so long. That is the secret behind why Ethiopia has remained at the bottom of the world in every aspect. However, nowadays it is highly likely that the fate of Gaddafi will catch up every dictator in Africa sooner or later.
Steve M. Engerer
Sep 16th 2011, 13:59
I would like to show my appreciation to Emeritus President & former Prime Minister Dr. Edward Fenech Adami for saving us Maltese from becoming blood brothers with the Gaddafi regime by winning the 1987 elections.
God forbid whre we would be today if Labour had won those elections!!.
Thank you Dr. Fenech Adami.. You sterling service to this country will never be forgotten...
Mr James Tyrrell
Sep 16th 2011, 13:46
No one reading this story can even begin to imagine the pain this poor girl has been through in the past three months or indeed the pain she will have to endure over the coming months and years. What Malta is doing here to help Ms Mullah is to be applauded and I think we should all ignore the negative comments below as they do not truly represent the Maltese people who are and always have been true Christian people unwilling to pass by on the other side.
Shwejga Mullah, I wish you peace and a successful recovery from your injuries and whatever you decide for your future I hope you find the happiness you so rightly deserve.
Julian Brincat
Sep 16th 2011, 12:27
There are a range of comments below and some very strong reactions to the negative ones. However I must say why have we opted to pay and subsidise this victim? She has been through a thoroughly disgusting ordeal and those working in her interests must be applauded but why was this victim picked over the many other sufferers in Libya, some suffering much more horrendous injuries than her. Is it for publicity? Help a handful of regular victims and this goes unnoticed. Help one well publicised victim and score a few brownie points. You can tell from the self congratulating posts of many people over here whilst refusing to look at the overall picture (“front page of CNN” “Noble gesture” etc)
This is not me saying anything negative about the woman herself or the people that are genuinely assisting but I believe that you either take the humanitarian line and fully commit to assisting as many victims of the atrocities as possible or not. By publicising this Malta may get a pat on the back but in this modern day and age of spin doctors and PR it is very transparent.
Thelma Cilia
Sep 16th 2011, 12:07
Once again I will repeat myself and declare what a sorry nation we are!!! I simply cannot believe some of the comments submitted here. How is it possible to find such pea brains (actually pea brain is a compliment here...no brains whatsoever is more appropriate) that in confrontation with such a tragic happening they will take the opportunity to comment against the government. Is it at all possible for them not to bring in politics into EVERYTHING???!!! Shame...shame...shame!! I sincerely hope that this young lady will get the overdue treatment she deserves. She has been unfortunate enough to be working for people who do not deserve to be called humans!
Martin Schranz
Sep 16th 2011, 11:56
Who are they kidding? For months the maltese government, in our name, has sent immigrants back to Libya, in collusion with Berlusconi and Gaddhafi, for a near certain death, inprisonment or torture in Libyan prisons, encouraged and supported by maltese people, and now because all eyes are on them they make a whole show of one ethiopian for publicity. The hypocrisy!
Mr john vella
Sep 16th 2011, 11:37
Wow !!!
This is an honorable thing to do.
But does it make sense, as of lately I entered the emergency, send by the polyclinic on a suspicion of a heart attach, the service was prompt and first class BUT I had to wait on a chair for hours in the emergency for a bed.
The first bed that was available was of an individual that has just passed away and they were still dressing him in the ward dressing room.
My question is do we have beds or we only play with figures as usual!
Louis Galea
Sep 16th 2011, 11:34
ISTHI SUR DENNIS ZAMMIT ... GHANDEK QALB SIEHBI?
Dennis Zammit
Sep 16th 2011, 10:58
WOW !!!!
We have to wait for years for an operations at Mater Dei or the former St. Luke's and then, we hear of these foreigners, although we pity them, who get medical treatment immediately and free paid by our taxes. That's nice! Very good for Public Relations but surely not for local tax payers.
Not to mention the plane also paid by our taxes.
Mr M Cachia
Sep 16th 2011, 11:33
That Sir - is a vile comment! Your opinion is definitly not shared by the rest of the Maltese population. You actually think the Maltese taxpayer doesn't enjoy seeing his taxes being spent on thigs that count - like saving this woman's life? Perhaps I have too high an opinion of my countrymen, i don't know.
And anyway the medical treatment is being payed for by Libya, according to CNN.
Mark-anthony Fenech
Sep 16th 2011, 11:36
People who reason like you are utterly unbelievable eh...
Mr Kyle Boffa
Sep 16th 2011, 11:55
prosit xbin.. kompli irraguna hekk u sparati 'l quddiem nimxu.
Ronald Attard
Sep 16th 2011, 11:56
What a selfish being !
Mr Patrik Larsson
Sep 16th 2011, 12:50
In stark contrast to you, I feel proud and fortunate that my tax money is being put to such good use.
John A. Gauci
Sep 16th 2011, 14:22
Mr. Dennis Zammit does know what ' human aid' means. Hallat il gas mal .....
Ms D Galea
Sep 16th 2011, 15:19
You are a sorry excuse of a human being, Mr Zammit.
John Spiteri
Sep 16th 2011, 10:09
There are people in worst condition than her in Libya, with eyes, arms and limbs missing! How low our politicians will scoop to seek public approval! Its obvious that there are serious problems brewing in Malta, for this government to fly out a private jet at tax payers expence, whilst Im getting to work late every day on the useless Arriva buses!!!!!!!!!!
Alfred Falzon
Sep 16th 2011, 10:34
@ John Spiteri
What has Arriva transport problems to do with providing humanitarian aid to desperate cases in war-torn Libya after the atrocities committed by Gaddafi and his gangsters?
Strike a balance to become more credible!
Mr R ferriggi
Sep 16th 2011, 10:56
x'qed thawwad siehbi??
int taf x'inhi tkun UMAN?
Antoine Zammit
Sep 16th 2011, 11:25
Good Point... The govt... like Arriva... is taking YOU for a ride..
however one justifies this as a humanitarian act.. if u know of others in Libya.. Speak up.. give info so that they too can be saved!
Mr Kyle Boffa
Sep 16th 2011, 12:02
hmmm spjegali kif irnexxielek f 4 linji tghaqqad il-vittmi tal-Libja mal-Arriva..
John Spiteri
Sep 16th 2011, 10:03
I hope this is not just being used as government publicity to deflect peoples attention from the arriva crisis. Other european countries could have assisted this poor lady?
emmanuel scicluna
Sep 16th 2011, 09:23
Sweyga is now safe and sound. My thoughts now go to the baby daughter........
Fiona Borg
Sep 16th 2011, 09:00
@ Alfred Falzon
Imma x' ghadu x jaqsam Dr Gonzi f' din il bicca tax xoghol x idjozija ta' nies? Mbaghad ghidu li l- laburisti brainwashjati ta! X injoranza!
Alfred Falzon
Sep 16th 2011, 10:28
@ Fiona Borg
Idiots are those Labour supporters who follow blindly what Gaddafi stooge KMB relates on Smash TV and who are only too willing to accept seeing his portrait STILL hanging at the PL Headquarters spiting human rights and those Maltese who hate odious tyranny and gangsters indicted for heinous crimes against humanity!
Dr Gonzi is Malta's Prime Minister and he deserves our appreciation for condemning right from the start such atrocities and for transforming Malta into a humanitarian base to relieve the sufferings of a people crushed under a Mediterranean Hitler!
The Libyan people know who stood with them right from the start of the Revolution and condemn the PL for its double dealings and slanted news on its media in favour of the ousted Gaddafi ruthless regime!
Gary Davies
Sep 16th 2011, 08:22
never thought i would see propaganda of this scale in Malta :-(
Steve M. Engerer
Sep 16th 2011, 13:54
Where are you from Mr. Davies please?
Trust you are not British after reading your comment, above as PM Cameron is in Libya at the moment!!
Oh maybe that is not for propoganda!!!!
John Scerri
Sep 16th 2011, 07:24
This reminds me of a film now showing in local cinemas....'The Devil's Double'.
Wounds may heal ....the healthy human brain is not programmed to forget. This lady and many more like her will carry their horrors throughout all their life.
This is why we...... free people.... need to understand that human beings seeking asylum in our country and others do this for many reasons and they ask for our help and compassion .
One may not even imagine what some of them and their families might have gone through.
victor bonello
Sep 16th 2011, 10:26
whilst I tend to agree with what Mr. Scerri states, theses things come to mind;
a. As much as I feel sorry for this lady, we are hearing her version of facts
b. Could this have been a self inflicted thing to assure her safty? We have now heard of the atrocities, murders and rapes sustaind by civilians by the so called "rebels", even if media is keeping all this hushed up?
c. What about all the happeings in Palastine? people have been suffering mental and phyisical oppression for years..but then Palastine has no oil..so who cares!
Warmer Libri
Sep 16th 2011, 00:59
well done!! However I am surprising why all this interest about this evidence based abused Nanny! Just because she was a nanny of one of Gadaffi grandsons? we know already that a lot of libyans and non libyans have been tortured extensively killed, burned ..etc so what is new in this story?!! why all this welcoming not given by the same degree to the immigrants who protesting many times for the bad situations they are living in, in malta???? how many flowers they have been given??? they live sometimes in tents with out light or even enough water!!! why all this discrimination?? we have to be fair with every person in need with out taking advantages of some situations and forgetting many others who really suffer a lot!!! I hope this comment will be published! God bless you all
Wilfred Camilleri
Sep 15th 2011, 22:59
Maybe KMB should pay for her medical expenses since he believes the Gaddafis never did any wrong!
Matthew Vella
Sep 15th 2011, 22:54
Maybe for once we wont be on foreign news for embarrassingly archaic laws and animal abuse.
Mr Stephen Florian
Sep 15th 2011, 22:41
Miskina.
mario gellel
Sep 15th 2011, 22:33
U AHNA IL-MALTIN ???
Joseph Scicluna
Sep 16th 2011, 11:34
mela int malti?
Mark-anthony Fenech
Sep 16th 2011, 11:35
Aħna l-Maltin xiex? Ġest nobbli kien dan li tiġi mgħejjuna din il-mara.
Alfred Falzon
Sep 15th 2011, 22:32
"She said that she was never paid in the year she spent (as a nanny) working for the Gaddafis."
She was a modern-day slave, a nobody, treated like scum, and disposed of at the snap of one's fingers...
That's how the all-powerful, corrupt Gaddafis treated those who served them!
Nanny Sweyga Mullah is just one typical victim of this monstrous brutality that was the Khadafi regime at the height of its power!
Human rights? Unheard of, yet...
Despised by a brutish clan without scruples intent on amassing wealth and consolidating by foul means its power over a people renowned for their hospitality and kind heartedness.
Her torturer, Aline Skaf from Akkard in the Northern region of Lebanon, a so-called Christian and Paris model, the wife of Hannibal Gaddafi who became notorious after the shameful incident at the President Wilson Hotel in Geneva, Switzerland, where the couple were accused of beating the hotel staff with hangers and belts!
This led to strained relations between Libya and Switzerland with the regime withdrawing the issue of visas, barring Swiss imports into Libya and oil exports to Switzerland!
Nanny Sweyga Mullah was found by the NTC freedom fighters abandoned and left for dead in one of the Gaddafi's luxurious villas in Tripoli, lying on a mattress on the floor! She told them how Aline poured boiling water on her TWICE inside a bathroom tub after she refused to beat Skaf's baby daughter who wouldn't stop crying!
Aline is reportedly having fled to Algeria together with Hannibal and other members of the Gaddafi clan.
The Maltese Government, led by Dr Lawrence Gonzi, has once again given tangible proof of Malta's role as a humanitarian hub and deserves our appreciation and wholehearted approval!
Victor Vella
Sep 15th 2011, 20:33
It amazes me how some people can talk politics in the face of such news.Anger at the perpetrator of this act yes , but politics?
Mr Michael Buhagiar
Sep 16th 2011, 08:17
ghax ma jaqbilx ghal widnejk allura nghalqu halqna. Mhux hekk tghid? Il-passatt mahmug tal-lejber fil-kwisstjoni libjana ghandhu jhammar wicc kull laburist genwin u mhux. Kontu ghoddkom gibtuna satellita ta' Gadaffi kif ghadhom jafuna sal-lum certi pajjizi. isthu bi hbieb bhal dawn jiffinanzjaw lil partit laburista.
Brian Gatt
Sep 16th 2011, 13:11
@ Michael Buhagiar
Sur Genju our beloved prime minister had just invited the Liyan tyrant over for a state visit apart from the fact that he visted him personally in Libya for i dont know how many times so please do yourself an favour and if you want to start slinging mud begin at home !!!
Ray Gatt
Sep 16th 2011, 14:36
@ Brian Gatt - why are you surprised that the PM invited Gaddafi for a state visit. At the time he was running Libya, so it was Gaddafi one had to deal with. You must be too young to know, but in the seventies Gaddafi was brought to Malta by the then ruling Labour Party and we had him on a pedestal at Gavino Gulia square in Cospicua where he addressed a mass meeting (which was translated by Nader Salem Rizzo). He wanted so much that Mintoff stays in power that he threatened us that he would only give us cheap oil if MLP stays in power. ANYBODY DARE CONTRADICT ME???
Claire Busuttil
Sep 15th 2011, 20:19
yeah right, I agree that it is a nice thing to do, helping this poor lady. However I just want that our government does not only helps when this help is actually brought into the international media......
but also the Maltese patients, facing regular shortage in medicines, in the government pharmacies!
Good luck to this victim.
Mr Michael Buhagiar
Sep 16th 2011, 08:17
The Government helps all patients who need medical care - free medical care. Dont expect the impossible.
Brian Gatt
Sep 16th 2011, 13:08
Yeah right having a 3 years waiting list is helping the patients....can someone tell us if there is a waiting list for plastic surgery operations? I hope there isnt for the sake of the Minister of Health
Claire Busuttil
Sep 16th 2011, 19:10
@MBuhagair-
what are you talking about???
Medicine supply, are always on shortage, for Maltese patients. So if you do not have any experience, of getting the medicine from the government pharmacies, just shut your mouth.
Mr Alex Buds
Sep 15th 2011, 19:57
A truly humane gesture from Malta that makes me proud to be Maltese and shows the rest of the world (we're on the front page of CNN today) what measure of a people we are.
(Very) well done! God bless Malta.
Mr Duncan Scerri
Sep 15th 2011, 19:57
"[EU nationals wanting to reside in Malta] had to have health insurance recognised across Europe and pay an application fee of €6,000 to cover fees the government will be incurring through a sub-contracted international firm to do the 'fit and proper' test to check whether the applicant is 'desirable'."
http://bit.ly/p15oNZ
I suppose the 6000EUR is to cover this sort of thing?
"She has, however, told CNN she would like to return home to Ethiopia."
Alfred Falzon
Sep 15th 2011, 20:20
@ Duncan Scerri
What has your comment to do with Malta's great NOBLE HUMANITARIAN GESTURE?!
We're expecting a reply and most willing to answer in kind!
Mr Michael Buhagiar
Sep 16th 2011, 08:20
what's wrong with that? Or do you want us to go down the road to financial ruin. This is a humanitarian case, not like Algeria and Niger did when they gave refuge to the Gadaffi clan "on humanitarian basis" (sic), who are wanted by the International Court of Justice for crimes against humanity.
Raymond Sammut
Sep 15th 2011, 16:36
Because she is still young, her prognosis would be good. Money will be needed for appropriate treatment. Anti-Slavery International, a long established charity in the UK, are presently raising funds for this particular case.
Sharlet Fabri
Sep 15th 2011, 15:52
More heartbreaking details that this poor lady gave herself can be found on:
http://edition.cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2011/08/28/rivers.scarred.after.gadhafi.cnn
Joseph V Savona
Sep 15th 2011, 14:57
Maybe somebody can find out where she can get this treatment.
http://www.thatvideosite.com/video/the_skin_gun
Mr N. Agius
Sep 15th 2011, 15:40
impressive
Mr A Cardona
Sep 15th 2011, 15:42
thanks for sharing this info. Did not imagine it was possible considering the complexity of layers of the skin.
Hope this poor woman gets back to normality. Such cruelty is disgusting and sick.
J. Fiorentino
Sep 15th 2011, 15:54
I would not trust a doctor with such a hairdo. Re: skin gun...read this and decide
http://clinicalposters.com/news/2011/0204-skin-cell-gun.html
Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)
Sep 15th 2011, 16:03
I imagine that the treatment would have to be done when the injury first occurs not three months later. Interesting idea though that deserves researching.
The isolation of skin cells and body-fat cells is currently used successfully in anti-ageing cosmetic surgery because the right cells can be injected into strategic places in the face from where they can immediately obtain a blood supply thus avoiding being consumed by the body. The essential part is the isolation of the right cells that can be injected because not all cells are suitable.
In this fashion, this treatment replaces Botox (which induces local-nerve paralysis to stop frowning or wrinkles) to a considerable extent. The technology comes from Germany and there is no rejection because the cells come from the patient's own body. I am not a doctor so I am relating from memory, what was described to me by a practitioner in Greece, who has been doing this successfully for some time.
I don't know if the two treatments are related.