Lund, Sweden, January 9, 2017
TFF Photo Story # 3 by Jan Oberg
Documentation of the fact that it was the Syrian authorities, the Syrian Army, Russian doctors, the Syrian Red Crescent and volunteering Syrian youth who took care of these destitute internally displaced people.
In short, the evil guys – the only ones at that – according to most Western media.
No Western humanitarian organisations were seen, neither any leading Western media.
The media have also conveniently stopped writing about Aleppo – beyond doubt a world historic event – and ignored the suffering of the innocent, non-armed victims in this crisis: the largest humanitarian crisis in the world since 1945.
The last article about Aleppo in New York Times is from December 19, about 7-year old Twitter-girl Bana and written by a marketing expert. The level can hardly get lower.
The story of Aleppo cannot be silenced.
TFF’s first two photo reports were seen by close to 70.000 people during the first two weeks.
There are many other eyewitness reports – all on social media, de facto barred from the mainstream media.
The attempt to ignore the historical turning point that Aleppo is and to silence on-the-ground reports will fail.
A larger truth is emerging. The moral and political failure of Western and allies’ policy since 2012 makes the story of Aleppo just too embarrassing, something neither politicians nor governments nor media want to be reminded of.
But 13 million Syrians who are in need of humanitarian help – thanks to non-UN sanctions since 1979 and the war – need a more truthful story.
And they need the world’s attention and help – to all of them and not to the politically chosen few.
* No re-printing or re-posting of any photos without prior written permission from the photographer. Write janoberg@mac.com.