Heartbreaking Goodbyes From Aleppo’s Residents In Moving Videos And Messages

You can’t have missed the moving pleas for help and the heartbreaking farewell messages from the residents of Aleppo as the internet has now made us more connected than ever. People all over the world have now witnessed the impact and total devastation that the war in Syria has had on its residents by just watching the frantic worry and fear in the eyes of the brave souls that are still left in the city.

While the BBC reports that right now the deal is back on in Eastern Aleppo to evacuate, things have been tense as both civilians and rebel fighters had thought they would be evacuating earlier on Wednesday. Now rebel groups are saying that the evacuation will take place on Thursday, but as of yet there has been no direct confirmation that we know of from either Russia or the Syrian government.

Residents left in Aleppo are clearly tense as Hezbollah-run media has said that negotiations are going through “big complications” and have not ended yet. Furthermore, air strikes are reported to have resumed today with an intense fury around the territory that is held by rebels, and 50,000 residents are estimated to remain here.

You can certainly understand the fear that Aleppo residents are feeling right now, not knowing what is going to happen to them and whether they will even live through the rest of the day or night. Many of these people, including journalists and activists still in the city, have taken to social media with agonizing messages that tell loved ones and people around the world goodbye.

One activist, Lina Shamy, posted a video on Twitter and spoke of the genocide she saw all around her. On her Twitter page she describes herself as belonging to the revolution. “To the great Syrian Revolution I belong. My life is for it, my voice and my death.”

To everyone who can hear me!#SaveAleppo#SaveHumanity pic.twitter.com/cbExEMKqEY

— Lina shamy (@Linashamy) December 12, 2016

And in one of the saddest messages, a young girl named Bana Alabed, aged 7, wrote her own farewell on Twitter. On the previous day she had told the world that her father was gravely injured and that she was in tears. In this new message, she said that it was her last moment.

My name is Bana, I’m 7 years old. I am talking to the world now live from East #Aleppo. This is my last moment to either live or die. – Bana

— Bana Alabed (@AlabedBana) December 13, 2016

If it weren’t for social media, most people would have no idea what is happening in Aleppo right now, at least beyond the headlines that are being reported in the news. But thanks to the internet, we are getting firsthand accounts from people like the activist who was able to speak to TIME bureau chief Jared Malsin through WhatsApp.

“Our last scream from last free neighborhoods in Aleppo. The agreement has been broken. Hundreds of shell bombs fell on us. Dire medical situation. No ambulance cars. People are dying in the streets.”

Then we have journalist Rami Zien who also said goodbye over Twitter.

“Thanks all who stand for us and pray for us. But it’s almost over and they are just hours away from killing us.”

A journalist from London, Osha al-Mossallami, echoed all of our sentiments when she wrote on Twitter that the world had simply not done enough to help Aleppo’s residents, activists, and journalists.

“To those who stayed to document Aleppo and now send final goodbyes: thank you. You did more than your part, we didn’t do ours.”

Aleppo’s residents probably never thought they would be in the position they are in right now, not knowing as they go to bed at night if they will live to see the morning light. The evacuations may very well take place on Thursday, and the world prays that they will, especially after tearfully watching the people of Aleppo saying goodbye.

[Featured Image by Manu Brabo/AP Images]