NEW DELHI: In a distressing incident in Vikaspuri, a Syrian refugee and his 11-month-old son were reportedly attacked with a corrosive substance by a group of locals. Both are currently receiving treatment at Safdarjung Hospital, with an FIR filed on Monday.
The attack occurred on September 30. Rafat, a Syrian national, his wife Marisa—who is originally from Thailand—and their infant son had been living on the street outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Vikaspuri due to their inability to secure help from the agency.
Rafat, who sustained burns to his neck and shoulder, shared that he had lost his call center job weeks prior and sought assistance from the UNHCR. “We are refugees, and the only place we can turn to is UNHCR,” he said. After being denied help, they resorted to living on the street, setting up a makeshift home near the commission. However, their presence faced hostility from local residents.
On the day of the attack, while Marisa went to use a nearby public toilet, a group confronted Rafat and his son. “I saw them with a can and sensed danger. I tried to flee, but they threw something on us before I could escape,” he recounted. He described the immediate burning sensation and the chemical odor following the assault. After struggling to find transportation, a motorcycle rider ultimately took them to the hospital.
Marisa, in tears, expressed her anguish over her son’s injuries, particularly around his face and eyes. “When we reached the hospital, I feared for his life. How could someone do this to a baby?” she lamented, wishing only for her son to receive the necessary medical care.
Rafat and Marisa’s journey began years ago when they met in Bengaluru. “I came to India in 2015 to study and fell in love with Marisa. Our families disapproved, leading us to drop out of college and take on various jobs,” Rafat explained. However, the war in Syria forced them to abandon the idea of returning home, and they moved to Delhi nearly two years ago, struggling to make ends meet.
Following the attack, the Brave Souls Foundation, an NGO that supports acid attack survivors, has stepped in to assist the family with both medical and legal support. Advocate Ali Zia Kabir emphasized that the law protects all individuals equally, regardless of their refugee status.
Shaheen, the NGO’s founder, condemned the incident, highlighting the alarming accessibility of corrosive substances in the capital. Rafat is determined to see his attackers brought to justice and has sought assistance from city authorities.
