Older brother of 'Aleppo Boy' dies
Madiha Abdullah
August 21, 2016 14:09 MYT
August 21, 2016 14:09 MYT
Omran became viral after a footage of him was released by Aleppo Media Centre, on August 17. - File Photo
A FEW days have passed since citizens of the world learnt that the courageous Syrian boy, Omran Daqneesh, five, was reunited with his family following an airstrike that hit their residence in Aleppo, Wednesday.
Yesterday, the death of Omran's elder brother, Ali, 10, shocked people around the world.
Omran died on Saturday after suffering serious internal bleeding and organ damage, which he sustained during the Wednesday's tragedy, said Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The Aleppo Media Centre later confirmed the news.
Omran's mother and sister are still recovering in the hospital.
The image of Omran seated in an ambulance after being rescued was released by Aleppo Media Centre, on August 17.
In the video, Omran, also known as the 'Aleppo Boy', had just being pulled from rubble after an airstrike.
Despite physically wounded, the five year old did not cry. Instead, he sat on the chair quitely, looking daze and confused.
It perceived by many as a powerful reminder of the ongoing crisis in the Syrian city.
Over the past few months, Russian and Syrian warplanes have intensified their air strikes on the rebel-held east of the city since insurgents made an advance last month, breaking an effective siege.
Fighting and air strikes in and around Aleppo have killed 448 civilians so far this month, the Observatory said.
Since 2011, rebels, supported by the United States, Turkey and Gulf Arab nations, have been fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad, who is supported by Russia and Iran. Russia began air strikes last September.
Russia on Thursday said it supported the idea of weekly 48-hour ceasefires to allow humanitarian aid to enter parts of Aleppo, a plan the rebels also cautiously welcomed.