The Syrian Boy Pulled from the Rubble in Aleppo
Omran Daqneesh, 5, was rescued after an airstrike in the Syrian city of Aleppo. Within hours, a photo of his dust- and blood-covered face captured the world's attention. This is the story behind the image.
By MEGAN SPECIA, YARA BISHARA and NEIL COLLIER on Publish Date August 18, 2016. Photo by Mahmoud Raslan/Aleppo Media Center.Article: “How Omran Daqneesh, 5, Became a Symbol of Aleppo’s Suffering”
Before Reading:
Look at the cover image for the above video. What do you think is going on in this picture? What do you see that makes you say that?
Then watch the video.
What do you know about the conflict in Syria? Do you know who is fighting, why they are fighting or how the war has affected Syrians?
Questions for Comprehension and Analysis
1. Who is Omran Daqneesh? What happened to him?
2. Why did an image of Omran rocket around the world — especially when other images from the war have not been able to grab the rest of the world’s attention? What is your own reaction to the photograph?
3. How has the image of Omran been drafted as an emblem of despair by Syrians and others concerned about the human toll of the Syrian conflict? How has it been used on social media, for example?
4. Read the article’s conclusion, from “On Thursday morning, journalists from around the world were clamoring…” until the end of the article. Why do you think Anne Barnard, the author, decided to end the article this way? What statement do you think she is trying to make?
What Do You Think?
Ms. Barnard writes, “Omran — like Alan Kurdi, the Syrian toddler who drowned last September and whose lifeless body washed up on a Turkish beach — is bringing new attention to the thousands upon thousands of children killed and injured during five years of war and the inability or unwillingness of global powers to stop the carnage.” What are other ways to focus the world’s attention on the Syrian war? How might the world stop the killing?