While many people use social media to share their happy moments and special memories, a Syrian young girl and her mother use Twitter differently.
Living in East Aleppo, Bana Alabed, 7 year, and her mom, Fatemah, use their Twitter account to make the world aware of the gruesome situation in the city.
The account, launched last September and followed by more than 84K users, displays aspect of life in the city, under the siege and continuous deadly attacks.
It reveals the horrific experience Aleppo kids have to go through. Bana frequently livestreams the air strikes and shells that hit their city.
Sometimes, the danger is so close; it is rather impossible to record anything.
One bomb hit very near to our house. I was very scared. I would like to thank everyone praying for us tonight as we sleep in fear. – Bana
— Bana Alabed (@AlabedBana) November 16, 2016
Airstrikes are not the only threat to Aleppo residents. Food shortage is another suffering:
Good afternoon. Dear world, we are really running out of food. There's no food in town even if you want to buy it.-Fatemah #Aleppo
— Bana Alabed (@AlabedBana) November 13, 2016
And lack of medicine makes things even worse:
I am sick now. The war started again, there's no medicine. Please pray for me dear world. – Bana #Aleppo #StandWithAleppo pic.twitter.com/tx9a72Ff8w
— Bana Alabed (@AlabedBana) November 9, 2016
Bana’s school was destroyed by the Syrian regime’s airstrikes. It is not the only school anyway.
I want to go back to school now please. This is my school destroyed.-Bana #Aleppo pic.twitter.com/2Ym6nKNgg6
— Bana Alabed (@AlabedBana) October 28, 2016
However, there are some moments of happiness
Good afternoon. I am happy today because of? Guess. , what about you? What are you doing now? – Bana #Aleppo pic.twitter.com/5zEjnopa2K
— Bana Alabed (@AlabedBana) October 27, 2016
Despite everything, Bana’s mom is still optimistic:
A time will come when it's raining normal and not raining bombs in #Syria. Good night dear friends.- Fatemah
— Bana Alabed (@AlabedBana) November 2, 2016
“In the city of Aleppo, daily indiscriminate attacks on populated areas kill and injure scores of children. Those who survive, are witnessing gruesome violence that no child should ever see, leaving them with lifelong physical and psychological scars.” UNICEF