A Syrian orphan born under the rubble of his home that collapsed after last week’s earthquake has been moved to a “safe place” to protect him from possible abduction and the risk of adoption fraud, the BBC reports, News.ro reports.

Aya was found alive under the rubble, her umbilical cord still attached to her mother, who died in the earthquake along with the rest of the family. The little girl quickly became a symbol of hope, a sign of wonder, and her images pulled from the ruins went viral on social networks.

As a precautionary measure, the Afrin Health Authority took steps to move the child to a safe place to protect the girl, following a violent incident on Monday at a hospital in the rebel-held region where she was initially cared for. .

The nurse, accompanied by two armed men, allegedly beat the director.

The head of the Health Authority, Dr. Ahmad Haj Hasan, however, denied claims on social media that it was a failed attempt to abduct Aiya.

“The abduction claims were a misunderstanding. It was purely an internal matter for the hospital and had nothing to do with the child,” he told the BBC. According to some media, the nurse was fired by the director.

Thousands of people offered to adopt the child last week after her story was widely reported in local and international media. However, the Department of Health is determined to prioritize the girl’s well-being and take a cautious approach to the adoption process, a source told the BBC.

Aya’s mother went into labor after the house collapsed

Aya’s mother went into labor shortly after their family home in the city of Jindeiris was destroyed by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck southern Turkey on February 6. The mother died after giving birth to Aya, who was still attached by the umbilical cord when she was found by rescuers. Dramatic footage shared widely on social media showed a man holding a child covered in dust after he was pulled from the rubble.

The child’s father, four brothers and an aunt were killed in the accident. Khalil al-Suwadi, a distant relative who was there when Aya was brought to safety, took the child to a hospital in Afrin. The pediatrician who looked after her, Dr Hani Maruf, told the BBC last Thursday that Aya had arrived in a “bad state”. “He had cuts, bruises, he was cold and barely breathing,” he added.

However, Aya responded to the treatment and her condition stabilized the next day. Hospital director Khalid Attia said his wife is breastfeeding Aya along with their four-month-old daughter and they will care for her until she is adopted.

Jindaris, located 8 km from the border with Turkey, was one of the most affected cities in Syria. About 200 buildings were completely destroyed there.

The White Helmets, local civilian volunteers who led search and rescue efforts in rebel-held areas, said they had pulled 517 bodies from the rubble. The deaths represent nearly a quarter of the total reported by the White Helmets and opposition authorities in the region, where 90 percent of the 4.6 million people were in need of humanitarian aid before the disaster.