A boy braved thirst and desert conditions to walk 60 miles through one of the most dangerous countries on earth.

Haberdashers’ Askes’ pupil Saif Abbas Chatoo, 16, has raised £1,500 for Kidzcare Tanzania by trekking for two days and nights through the desert between Najaf and Karbala in Iraq.

He completed the arduous trek in December without carrying any food or water, instead relying on donations of bread and tea from strangers to survive.

The Year 11 pupil set out with a team of family members and friends, but most had to pull out along the way, including his mother who sprained her ankle.

He arrived in the holy city of Karbala on Christmas Eve with only his best friend for company.

Saif said the journey was made even more difficult by the desert conditions, where temperatures plunged to as low as -5°C

He described the last leg of his journey as being emotional.

Saif said:  “As we got closer to the city, more and more people joined us, ranging from old men with walking sticks to children as young as five. Soon there were thousands of people all aiming to reach the shrine at Karbala.”

All of the money Saif has raised will go towards Kidzcare Tanzania, which runs an orphanage in Dar es Salaam and builds nursery schools across the country.

“I felt this was a fitting charity for me to raise money for as these children have to walk many kilometres every day to get to school and fetch basic amenities, sometimes without the necessary supply of food and water.”

To sponsor Saif, visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SaifAbbas