First babies of 2018
TWO baby boys born at private hospitals in Lefkoşa were the first new arrivals of 2018 in the TRNC.
Rüzgar Haşim was delivered at 5.30am on Monday at Cyprus Life Hospital, weighing in at 2.92 kilos.
Delighted mother and father Hatice Özsaltık Haşim and Ahmet Haşim, who live in Gönyeli, said they felt “so happy and peaceful” following the birth. First-time dad Mr Haşim told
Cyprus Today that the couple had chosen the name Rüzgar, which means “wind” in Turkish, because their son “came into our lives like the wind”.
The second baby of the year was Barkın Burağan, who was born at 9.50am at Etik Hospital three weeks before his due date. He weighed 2.88 kilos and was welcomed into the world by big sister Beren, who is six. Father Şükrü, who works as a sports reporter for
Cyprus Today’s sister newspaper Kıbrıs, spoke of his “surprise” at the New Year’s Day birth.
“It was an unexpected development for us,” he said. “My wife Zeynep and I were shocked for a moment . . . We were not prepared for it psychologically.
“But that feeling was quickly replaced with joy and excitement after having our healthy boy.”
Mr Burağan thanked doctors at the hospital and family members for their support.
The last baby born in North Cyprus in 2017 was Önder Salih, the son of Nadiri and Sabiha Uslugil.
Mrs Uslugil gave birth to the boy at 6pm on New Year’s Eve at Cyprus Life Hospital.