Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Bana al-Abed: Seven-year-old Aleppan records video for Donald Trump asking him to remember Syrian refugees

“Mr Trump, have you ever had no food and water for 24 hours? Just think of the refugees and the children of Syria,” girl blogger who escaped the Syrian civil war pleads 

Thursday 02 February 2017 08:32 EST
Comments
Bana Alabed using a tablet in east Aleppo on October 12 2016, before her family was granted asylum in Turkey
Bana Alabed using a tablet in east Aleppo on October 12 2016, before her family was granted asylum in Turkey (AFP/Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The little girl who found a worldwide following tweeting about her hopes of going to school during the siege of Aleppo has recorded a message for US President Donald Trump, asking him to remember the plight of the Syrian people.

“Mr Trump, have you ever had no food and water for 24 hours? Just think of the refugees and the children of Syria,” Bana Alabed says in a video uploaded to her account on Wednesday, which was shared more than 7,000 times.

The seven-year-old's plea comes after President Trump’s executive order, which temporarily suspended the US’ refugee resettlement programme, and indefinitely barred all Syrians from entering the country - a move decried worldwide as inhumane.

The far-reaching order also temporarily bars citizens of six other Muslim countries, earning it the nickname 'Muslim ban.'

Bana and her family were evacuated from war-torn East Aleppo in December, after the city fell back under the control of the Syrian government.

She began tweeting about her fear of bombing and her desire to become a teacher when she grows up after her mother helped set up an account last September.

It attracted followers from over the world – as well as critics such as Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, who called her posts “terrorist propaganda”.

Bana, along with her parents and two younger brothers, was fortunate to be granted asylum in Turkey.

Photos from her Twitter account now show her enjoying normal aspects of childhood such as playgrounds, sweet shops, and new books.

Last month Bana tweeted a picture of a handwritten open letter she penned when Mr Trump took office.

James Corden films airport journey in protest at Donald Trump's 'Muslim ban'

“You must do something for the children of Syria because they are like your children and deserve peace like you,” she wrote.

“I beg you, can you do something for the children of Syria? If you can, I will be your best friend,” she said.

The UN estimates that at least 15,000 children are among the more than 300,000 people who have been killed in the country's six-year-old civil war.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in