Omran: The Posterboy for Change In Syria

Following a devastating airstrike, Syrian rescuers rushed to the scene of a partially razed apartment building in the rebel-held neighborhood of al-Qaterji, Aleppo, on Aug. 17. Among the rubble and dead bodies, 5-year-old Omran Daqneesh was pulled out by rescuers and taken to a waiting ambulance. Here, the haunting picture of the bewildered Daqneesh covered in blood and dust was taken by Al Jazeera Media Network photojournalist Mahmoud Raslan. The image quickly spread through social media and sparked a debate as to whether intervention is needed to ameliorate the chaotic warfare that has engulfed Syria for the past five years. His image has the potential to catalyze change for Syrians.

The civil war, a conflict waged by protesters calling for the removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has resulted in immense destruction for Syrians. Yet, his photo showcased a living portrayal of Aleppo’s anguish, not only for the heavily destroyed city of Aleppo but also for the entire country’s suffering citizens. It has offered a glimpse into the tribulations the people of Syria face daily and the horrendous situation they’ve been catapulted into. President Obama addressed the issue at the United Nations Leaders’ Summit for refugees, reading aloud a section of a letter written to him by a 6-year-old boy only known as Alex from Scarsdale, New York. Alex wrote President Obama saying that he and his family want to adopt Daqneesh and give him a better life.

While Daqneesh’s picture brought about talk of change, the reaction was similar to that of Alan Kurdi, a 3-year-old boy who washed ashore near Bodrum, Turkey in 2015. He drowned before reaching the country, and like Daqneesh’s image, Kurdi’s fueled conversations about the changes needed to end the Syrian War. Reformation is futile if people look away from a conflict claiming the lives of millions of innocent Syrians and are only prompted to action when a child is hurt or killed. Nations across the world should not stand idly by while Syrians are forced to leave their homes in order to survive.

In connection to Daqneesh, the man behind his picture, Raslan, was spotted posing for pictures with terrorists within the city. After receiving criticism for this, many began to speculate that Daqneesh’s image was exploited by the photojournalist to receive worldwide attention for himself. According to The Telegraph, Raslan refuted by stating his hopes that the photos he took of children and attacks in Syria will inform the world of the hardships in the country. Raslan’s background is of minor concern in the face of the desolation resulting from the war. His pose for pictures with the militant group does not negate the reality brought on by Daqneesh’s photo.

Daqneesh enlightened the globe as to the actual status of the Syrian War and its violent consequences. While being a glimpse into a conflict many failed to fully understand, he has been placed at the forefront, as Kurdi once was to a similarly dire situation. Individuals seem to react to a conflict when the anguish is palpable on a child’s face, but they never take action outright. If the Syrian War is to come to an end, and if change is to be brought into fruition, advocacy for peace is needed to keep Syrians from reliving the same traumatic incidents.