UAE expat cancer patient finally home after banks write off debt

Critical cancer patient Abdul Sattar Mohammed Barak, who was stuck in Dubai for more than one-and-a-half years due to non-payment of debts, has finally reached his home in India’s Tamil Nadu state and is now undergoing treatment at the Madurai Meenakshi Mission Cancer Treatment Centre.

Wheelchair-bound Sattar boarded a flight in Dubai on Friday, August 30, after three creditors wrote off his debts. The debtors moved in the matter after Emirates 24|7 and social workers in Dubai took up Sattar’s case.

Speaking to this website after landing in his home town, Sattar said he cannot find words to express his gratitude to the Indian community in Dubai and Emirates 24|7 for helping him come out the debt trap.

“How can I express my gratitude to the media, the social workers and other well-wishers who helped me come out of my difficult situation. I am happy to be home after six long years,” he said.

“Thanks to reports in Emirates 24|7 about my plight, three banks wrote off my credit card dues. 

"Money was paid to one of the four banks and I also got some money as donation for my follow up treatment in India,” Sattar added.

Sattar’s family members are happy to see him return home after six years but are worried about his deteriorating health. “We are both glad and sad at the same time because we did not know how critical his condition was. 

"Doctors are planning to increase the size of his stomach so that he can have liquid food. The size of his stomach was reduced in two surgeries earlier,” said a family member.

Dubai-based Indian social worker Umarani Padmanabhan accompanied Sattar to his home town.

Three UAE banks -- Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Dubai First and RAK Bank – wrote off his credit card dues.

However, the fourth creditor-bank insisted on repayment of its dues. Sattar’s end-of-service benefit from the private laboratory where he worked was used to settle his dues with this bank.

Members of the Al Khail Gate Malayali Association collected and donated some money for Sattar. Doctors at a Dubai hospital had advised him to go home to be with his family as his health was deteriorating and he may not live for more than six months.

Sattar, a businessman turned private lab assistant, was diagnosed with cancer about a year-and-a-half ago and was undergoing expensive treatment in Dubai with the help of an insurance card given by his employer.

“I am still weak but I am happy to be with my family. Special thanks to Umarani Padmanabhan and Emirates 24|7. I will not forget you people,” he added.

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