Seven-year-old Bana al-Abed wakes up to the sound of bombs in war-torn Aleppo every morning; the same sound usually sends her to bed at night.
Every day Bana and her mother Fatemah take to Twitter to share the horrors of living in Syria’s largest city. Through pictures, videos and text updates describing the devastation surrounding them, the two hope to bring attention to the suffering in Aleppo.
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“I want to let the world know about our life here,” Fatemah told Global News in a direct message on Twitter.
“I want people to know that we are suffering here and [they] should stand up for us.”
Bana and her mother began tweeting in September; however, the account has gained increased attention over the last week after air-strikes on the region increased.
The past two weeks have been especially deadly as Russian and Syrian warplanes dropped bombs throughout the region. According to the World Health Organization, over 2,300 people had been killed in eastern Aleppo between September 23 and October 2 alone, including more than 100 children.
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The United States and its allies have urged Russia – which is trying to crush resistance to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad – to halt the bombing and reach a diplomatic resolution; however, U.S.-Russian tensions have escalated since the breakdown of a cease-fire last month
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But the little girl’s tweets provide a heartbreaking glimpse into the world of a child surrounded by war.
One of her first tweets showed Bana at home, smiling while reading a book at her desk. The caption, however, told a different story.
“Good afternoon from #Aleppo. I’m reading to forget the war.”
Another photo, shared last week, shows the rubble of a home.
“This is my friend house bombed, she’s killed. I miss her so much.”
Last week, the UN health agency said medical care in rebel-held parts of the city was “unfathomable,” pleading for a halt to the violence that has prevented aid and support from entering.
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In an interview with The Guardian, Bana’s mother said the war has “eliminated everything called life.” There is very little diesel fuel left to power the generators, she said, so the family has set up solar panels to keep the lights on, and they have been unable to find fruit and vegetables in the market.
“They think those besieged are terrorists, and as you can see we are just normal people,” she said. “We are Syrians, we are the people of Aleppo.”
– With files from the Associated Press
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