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Boy in the ambulance: shocking image emerges of Syrian child pulled from Aleppo rubble Boy in the ambulance: shocking image emerges of Syrian child pulled from Aleppo rubble
(35 minutes later)
A photograph of a boy sitting dazed and bloodied in the back of an ambulance after surviving a regime airstrike in Aleppo has highlighted the desperation of the Syrian civil war and the struggle for control of the city.A photograph of a boy sitting dazed and bloodied in the back of an ambulance after surviving a regime airstrike in Aleppo has highlighted the desperation of the Syrian civil war and the struggle for control of the city.
The child has been identified as five-year-old Omran Daqneesh, who was injured late on Wednesday in a military strike on the rebel-held Qaterji neighbourhood of the war-ravaged city.The child has been identified as five-year-old Omran Daqneesh, who was injured late on Wednesday in a military strike on the rebel-held Qaterji neighbourhood of the war-ravaged city.
Related: Battles rage across Aleppo as Assad regime fights to quell rebelsRelated: Battles rage across Aleppo as Assad regime fights to quell rebels
The image shows him covered head to toe with dust and so disoriented that he seems barely aware of an open wound on his forehead. He was taken to a hospital known as “M10” and later discharged. The startling image shows him covered head to toe with dust and so disoriented that he seems barely aware of an open wound on his forehead. He was taken to a hospital known as “M10” and later discharged.
The startling image is a still from a video filmed and circulated by the Aleppo Media Centre. The anti-government activist group has been contacted to confirm details about when and where the footage was shot. The image is a still from a video filmed and circulated by the Aleppo Media Centre. The anti-government activist group has been contacted to confirm details about when and where the footage was shot. The group posted the clip to YouTube late on Wednesday, shortly after Omran was injured.
The group posted the clip to YouTube late on Wednesday, shortly after Omran was injured. It shows the boy being lifted from the rubble of a damaged building and taken to the ambulance. The fight for control of Aleppo has intensified in recent weeks following gains made by rebel groups battling the forces of the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad.
On Thursday, the UN special envoy for Syria suspended a meeting of a humanitarian aid taskforce – co-chaired by Russia and the US – citing his frustration about a month-long delay to aid deliveries to besieged areas of the country. Staffan de Mistura also reiterated his call for a 48-hour pause in the fighting, notably in Aleppo.
Rescue workers and journalists arrived in Qaterji shortly after the strike and began pulling victims from the rubble.Rescue workers and journalists arrived in Qaterji shortly after the strike and began pulling victims from the rubble.
“We were passing them from one balcony to the other,” photojournalist Mahmoud Raslan, who took the photo, told AP. He said he had passed along three lifeless bodies before receiving the wounded boy.“We were passing them from one balcony to the other,” photojournalist Mahmoud Raslan, who took the photo, told AP. He said he had passed along three lifeless bodies before receiving the wounded boy.
Omran was rescued with his three siblings, aged one, six, and 11, and his mother and father, according to Raslan. None sustained major injuries, but their apartment building collapsed shortly after the family was rescued.Omran was rescued with his three siblings, aged one, six, and 11, and his mother and father, according to Raslan. None sustained major injuries, but their apartment building collapsed shortly after the family was rescued.
“We sent the younger children immediately to the ambulance, but the 11-year-old girl waited for her mother to be rescued. Her ankle was pinned beneath the rubble,” Raslan said.“We sent the younger children immediately to the ambulance, but the 11-year-old girl waited for her mother to be rescued. Her ankle was pinned beneath the rubble,” Raslan said.
A doctor at M10 said eight people had died in the airstrike, including five children. Doctors in Aleppo use code names for hospitals, which they say have been systematically targeted by government airstrikes.A doctor at M10 said eight people had died in the airstrike, including five children. Doctors in Aleppo use code names for hospitals, which they say have been systematically targeted by government airstrikes.
His name is Omar Daqneesh and he is 5. Here he is after treatment by some extraordinarily brave doctors in #Aleppo. pic.twitter.com/7WT4oMqExKHis name is Omar Daqneesh and he is 5. Here he is after treatment by some extraordinarily brave doctors in #Aleppo. pic.twitter.com/7WT4oMqExK
The image has been shared thousands of times by people on social media, including the International Rescue Committee president and former UK foreign secretary, David Miliband. The initial photo of Omran, tweeted by the Telegraph reporter Raf Sanchez, has been retweeted more than 12,000 times.The image has been shared thousands of times by people on social media, including the International Rescue Committee president and former UK foreign secretary, David Miliband. The initial photo of Omran, tweeted by the Telegraph reporter Raf Sanchez, has been retweeted more than 12,000 times.
David Baines, a campaigner for Labour in the UK, remarked on the “horror” in Aleppo. “That little boy in the back of the ambulance, alone and dazed. Bloody awful. What can we do??” he asked.David Baines, a campaigner for Labour in the UK, remarked on the “horror” in Aleppo. “That little boy in the back of the ambulance, alone and dazed. Bloody awful. What can we do??” he asked.
Lydia Shelly, an Australian lawyer and community advocate, tweeted: “We need a political & social resolution to conflict in Syria & Iraq. We are losing a whole generation of children.”Lydia Shelly, an Australian lawyer and community advocate, tweeted: “We need a political & social resolution to conflict in Syria & Iraq. We are losing a whole generation of children.”
The fight for control of Aleppo has intensified in recent weeks following gains made by rebel groups battling the forces of the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad.
The M10 hospital was hit by airstrike in early August, an attack that was captured on CCTV footage.The M10 hospital was hit by airstrike in early August, an attack that was captured on CCTV footage.
CCTV footage shows moment Aleppo's M10 hospital came under attack this morning. Such attacks almost daily now. pic.twitter.com/T08lJMReqICCTV footage shows moment Aleppo's M10 hospital came under attack this morning. Such attacks almost daily now. pic.twitter.com/T08lJMReqI
Last week an alliance of Syrian rebels and Islamist groups broke the longstanding government siege on the eastern half of the city. Since then, the frequency and intensity of airstrikes has reportedly increased, despite an announcement from Russia that action over Aleppo would be suspended for three hours a day.Last week an alliance of Syrian rebels and Islamist groups broke the longstanding government siege on the eastern half of the city. Since then, the frequency and intensity of airstrikes has reportedly increased, despite an announcement from Russia that action over Aleppo would be suspended for three hours a day.
Senior military officials from Russia and the US are in talks to try to find a political solution to end the war.
Related: 'The worst place on earth': inside Assad's brutal Saydnaya prisonRelated: 'The worst place on earth': inside Assad's brutal Saydnaya prison
On Monday, Russian news agencies quoted the defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, as saying: “We are now in a very active phase of negotiations with our American colleagues.
“We are moving step by step closer to a plan – and I’m only talking about Aleppo here – that would really allow us to start fighting together to bring peace so that people can return to their homes in this troubled land.”
On Tuesday, Russia launched airstrikes in Aleppo and two other provinces from a base in western Iran, the main regional ally of the Assad regime.On Tuesday, Russia launched airstrikes in Aleppo and two other provinces from a base in western Iran, the main regional ally of the Assad regime.
The horror generated by the image of Omran echoes the anguished global response to the pictures of Aylan Kurdi, the drowned Syrian boy whose body was found on a beach in Turkey and came to encapsulate the horrific toll of Syria’s civil war.The horror generated by the image of Omran echoes the anguished global response to the pictures of Aylan Kurdi, the drowned Syrian boy whose body was found on a beach in Turkey and came to encapsulate the horrific toll of Syria’s civil war.
Associated Press contributed to this reportAssociated Press contributed to this report