Children in war-torn Syria have been pictured holding up photos of Pokémon in a ‘plea to the world to come to their rescue’.
The Revolutionary Forces of Syria Media Office shared photos of the children which have been widely circulated on social media.
Syrian children holding Pokemon photos in hopes the world will find them and save them pic.twitter.com/pjnSMwSdTn
— Teymour (@Teymour_Ashkan) July 21, 2016
One of the messages held up by a child, written in Arabic, says: “I live in Kafr Nabl, the Aleppo countryside. Come catch me.”
Another says: “I am a Pokémon at Idlib in Syria, would you please come and save me?”
“I am in Kafrnabol in #Idlib countryside, come find me,” says another.
#PrayForSyria#PokemonInSyria#RFS pic.twitter.com/N0nLvrPpUp
— إعلام قوى الثورة (@RFS_mediaoffice) July 21, 2016
The photo series urges the world to remember the Syria crisis which, according to Save The Children, has left more than a quarter of a million children living under siege.
Aid agencies say it is the worst humanitarian disaster in modern times,with millions forced to flee the country and millions more being displaced internally.
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Syrian graphic designer Saif Aldeen Tahhan has also used Pokémon Go to highlight the devastation in the country.
He created images — each carrying a ‘Syria Go’ logo — to show the impact of the war on the Syrian people over the last five years.
“I created these images as a way to turn attention to the Syrian war, and to focus on Syrian suffering instead of Pokémon, which people are crazy about,” he explained.
He told Al Arabiya: “The world has become obsessed with this video game, so I told myself why not use it as a medium to convey our suffering.
“Everyone is now searching for Pokémon, however, Syrians are searching for the basic necessities of life. Honestly, I don’t think the world feels for us.”
Meanwhile, these Syrian refugees have joined volunteers helping to feed homeless US war veterans.
And these heart-breaking illustrations capture the perilous journey refugee children face trying to reach Europe.
