Story By: Feza Uzay, Sub-Editor: Joe Golder, Agency:  Newsflash

The poor family of this five-year-old girl whose face was badly burned in a house blaze when she was a baby is now receiving help from the Turkish government after launching an appeal.

Dilara Sencan, 5, suffered severe burns on different parts of her body when a fire broke out in the family home in the north-western Turkish city of Kocaeli and spread to her cot.

The little girl was rescued from the flames by her neighbours and received treatment in the intensive care unit of a nearby hospital.

The child’s mother Altin Sencan, age not disclosed, said: “My daughter is having a hard time because of her appearance. She has undergone many surgeries. Tissue taken from other parts of her body was grafted onto the affected parts.”

She added: “Our financial situation is not very good. We are doing our best, but she needs surgery. I take my daughter to the park when no one is there. People ask questions like ‘why do you look like this?’ constantly.

“She is fed up with this and does not want to go out anymore. As a mother, I want to see her get better”.

Local media said that the Kocaeli Governorship, the Provincial Health Directorate, and the Gebze District Governorship joined forces to assist the desperate family after they asked for help.

The Ministry of Health stepped in and Dilara’s treatment will continue at the Akdeniz University Hospital in the district of Konyaalti.

Mrs Sencan said: “Thanks to those who contributed. They have not left us alone. I am very grateful to our President, to our Minister of Health. God bless you all.

“My only goal is my daughter. No mother wants her daughter to stay like that. As a mother, I hoped for this very much.”

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