Saudi health minister says conjoined Palestinain twins cannot be separated
By APSaturday, April 10, 2010
Saudi says Gaza conjoined twins inseparable
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi health minister says conjoined Palestinian twins flown to Riyadh from the Gaza Strip cannot be separated and do not have long to live.
The two-week old twins, joined at the chest, overcame immense obstacles to make it out of the Gaza Strip including an Israeli blockade, rival Palestinian governments and a string of national holidays.
Abdullah al-Rabeeah said in a statement Saturday that the girls Rital and Ritaj have a life threatening condition and similar cases in the past have not survived.
Tests show the twins suffer from a bacterial chest infection and their hearts, livers and digestive tracks work in tandem.
Saudi King Abdullah had agreed to pay for the operation and a special plane was chartered to fly them to Riyadh.
