Girl shot by Taliban flown to UK for care

Pakistani teenage rights activist Malala Yousufzai, who was seriously injured in an assassination attempt by the Taliban last week, was on Monday sent to Britain on an air ambulance for specialist treatment, including the repair of damaged bones of her skull.

On her arrival in the UK, 14-year-old Malala was transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham — an NHS (National Health Service) hospital which has a specialist major trauma centre.

The transfer was kept "top secret" in view of threats to her life, including a warning from the Taliban that it would target her again.

She was accompanied by a team of Pakistan Army doctors and a British medical unit in a specially equipped air ambulance provided by the royal family of the United Arab Emirates. Malala's plane touched down at Birmingham Airport at 8.50 pm (IST), a spokeswoman for the airport in central England, said.

"The evacuation was arranged by the Pakistani authorities after an assessment by the medical team treating Malala. It follows an offer by the UK government to assist Malala in any way that we could," said a statement issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.

"The hospital chosen has the capacity for Malala to be treated without affecting the normal operations of the hospital," the statement said.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the decision to shift Malala to Britain was made jointly by the civil and military leadership.

"It was agreed by the panel of Pakistani doctors and international experts that Malala will require prolonged care to fully recover from the physical and psychological effects of trauma that she has received," a Pakistani military spokesman said.British Foreign Secretary William Hague said his country would stand "shoulder to shoulder with Pakistan in its fight against terrorism".

Recovery chances good, say doctors

BIRMINGHAM: After her arrival at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Monday, medical director Dr Dave Rosser said, "Doctors ... believe she (Malala Yousufzai) has a chance of making a good recovery on every level", and added treatment and rehabilitation could take months. Reuters

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