DR ‹ › The story of Hafsa Bidri, an 11-year-old Moroccan-Belgian girl suffering from the rare blood disorder beta-thalassemia major, continues to draw widespread attention in Belgium. Since her story was shared online, a strong wave of solidarity has emerged within the Moroccan community in Belgium. So far, nearly 3,000 people have registered as potential stem-cell donors, including 1,664 donors of North African origin, according to Flemish newspaper Het Nieuwsblad. Hafsa urgently needs a genetically compatible donor to survive. Born with the disease, Hafsa relies on regular blood transfusions. Her older sister was cured years ago thanks to a family donor from Morocco, but despite several awareness campaigns launched since 2020, no suitable match has yet been found for Hafsa, where the odds can be as low as one in 50,000. A renewed campaign led by her school, friends, and teachers has also mobilized influencers, athletes, and artists of Moroccan descent in Belgium and abroad, amplifying efforts to reach more potential donors. Community leaders and mosques have meanwhile begun working with the Red Cross to facilitate donor registration and blood collection.
