TWO sisters who desperately need reconstructive surgery after a bomb blew up their home in Iraq are still relying on a Bradford-based aid agency to get them help in the West.

An appeal was launched by the Human Relief Foundation at Christmas to raise up to £60,000 but more donations are needed to make it happen after the charity hoped people across Bradford and the UK will give their support.

Thousands of pounds have been raised to date says Kassim Tokan, the charity’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer who described public support as “heartwarming” but added: “More still needs to be done. Donations will help the sisters with their living and hospital costs. The support will help ease their pain at this moment in time.”

University student Shahd Mahmood, 19, and her younger sister Zahra, 11, were eating breakfast at their home in conflict-stricken Mosul when the building was hit by an explosion. They lost four of their close family.

Shahd was severely burned and blinded while Zahra lost a large part of her lower jaw and had shrapnel lodged in her body.

Although the sisters are getting extensive care in an Iraqi hospital, the situation is still difficult for them as they need specialist treatment in the West.

Mr Tokan and a team will be flying to Mosul this month to visit the sisters and check on their progress as well as help provide emergency relief for other displaced families.

The charity is one of the very few organisations which has access inside Mosul city and is allowed access into the refugee camps to give food aid, water, hot meals and blankets daily.

Mr Tokan said reconstructive surgery in the West was the sisters’ only real hope at getting a second chance in life but their combined surgery would cost from between £20,000 to £60,000.

“Four members of the sisters’ family died and the remaining seven were injured badly as their house caught fire and collapsed after the blast. HRF’s relief team is fundraising to cover the costs for their operations so they can have a second chance in life,” he said.

Surgeons have removed part of the younger sister’s hip to try and rebuild her chin, there was a big part missing. The older one has lost one eye but if she can get the operation she needs there is a chance some of the sight, hopefully 50 per cent, in her right eye can still be saved.

“It’s still critical for both of them. The sisters’ plight is huge but is just a small proportion of the tragic suffering that is happening in Iraq,” added Mr Tokan.

To make a donation to help the sisters, call the charity on 020 7060 4422 and quote Shahd Appeal.