One of the most heartbreaking social media trends in recent years has been unfolding on Twitter since early December. The social media conversation centered on the Syrian conflict, specifically on the offensive by the Syrian government against rebels who occupied the ancient city of Aleppo, has been poignant and devastating.
Rescue workers and activists who poured into Aleppo for the purpose of providing humanitarian relief have been shocked by the scenes of death and destruction in the wake of a brutal offensive carried out by Syrian forces supported by Russian and Iranian operatives.
Leaders of the Syria Civil Defense organization, a group of volunteers who are waiting to render aid to civilians and besieged rebels, have not been able to reach the survivors due to violations of a cease fire agreement. Syrian forces have effectively retaken Aleppo, which was under rebel control for many months, but they did so with overwhelming force and without regard for civilian casualties who had been accustomed to living under rebel rule.
On Twitter, Syria Civil Defense volunteers have posted terrible images that show the devastation and carnage in Aleppo, and they are blaming the Arab community and the world at large for not paying enough attention to the way the conflict spiraled out of control in 2016. Some of the most heartbreaking updates have been posted by Bana, who is just seven years old.
Each Twitter update Bana provided seemed to be her last. Her family was pinned down in Aleppo and could not evacuate; Bana and her parents did not think that the government would keep them safe. Bana’s last update was provided by her mom on Thursday, December 14th; the family reported intense bombing and asked the world to help them.