The father of the 2015 drowned Syrian refugee boy Alan Kurdi wants to support the German aid organization Sea-Eye. He wants to set sail with the named after his son "Alan Kurdi", said Abdullah Kurdi (45) of the Italian newspaper "La Repubblica" in an interview.
Abdullah Kurdi had actually applied for a commitment to the Sea Rescue, confirmed a spokesman for Sea-Eye, you are in contact with him. The photo of the then three-year-old Alan's body on a Turkish beach had caused a stir around the world and had become a symbol of the refugee crisis.
DHA / AP
Turkish policeman with the body of Alan Kurdi, 2015: Worldwide sympathy
It was "very interesting" and a "great idea" when people were interested in the rescue operations, said the Sea-Eye spokesman. However, whether Abdullah Kurdi is actually deployed on the "Alan Kurdi" depends on several factors such as visa issues and training.
Two sons and the wife lost
Abdullah Kurdi paid tugs in 2015 to bring him and his family from Turkey to Greece. Previously, the Turkish authorities had denied the family exit visas for Canada, where they had relatives. The Dinghy of the Kurdi family sank at rough sea. The disaster also killed Alan's brother Ghalib and Abdullah Kurdi's wife Rehanna.
He rejoices over the named after his son ship, said Abdullah Kurdi now. Kurdi remarried after the boat accident four years ago and now expecting another child with his new wife. "As soon as my son is born I will go to the ship to rescue migrants and I will give them the help I did not get," he said "La Repubblica". Kurdi lives according to own data meanwhile in Erbil in the kurdischen part of Iraq and leads there a relief organization for children in refugee camps.
The "Alan Kurdi" of Sea-Eye had finished their rescue mission before Malta on September 10th. Currently the ship is in the port of Burriana in Spain. The aid organization wants to continue its mission on 12 October, but still waiting for the necessary financial resources.
