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#WithSyria Wants to End the Indiscriminate Bombing of Syrian Civilians

Categories: Middle East & North Africa, Syria, Citizen Media, Digital Activism, Disaster, Freedom of Speech, Human Rights, Humanitarian Response, Ideas, International Relations, Media & Journalism, Politics, Protest, Refugees, Women & Gender, Youth
How can one feel safe here? Act now to end the bombing of schools, hospitals and homes. Source: withSyria.com

How can one feel safe here? Act now to end the bombing of schools, hospitals and homes. Source: withSyria.com

“In Syria there are daily attacks, from groups on all sides, hitting schools, hospitals and other residential areas. In February, the UN Security Council demanded that indiscriminate attacks in Syria stop. It promised to take further steps if these attacks continued. As the violence gets worse, please use your power to hold the UN Security Council to its word.”

This is the message of withSyria [1], a movement of over 130 organisations [2], Syrian diaspora groups and people around the world not taking sides, but standing in solidarity with those caught in the conflict, now in its fourth year.

#withSyria wants the world leaders to hear and act through the public during the 69th UN General Assembly [3], which opened in New York today (September 24, 2014). This is the same organization whose Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Leila Zerrougui, defined [4] Syria as “One of the Most Dangerous Places to be a Child.” It has also classified Syria as one of the most dangerous places [5] to live today where in a Syrian neighborhood rocket fire becomes the new normal [6]:

The most dangerous places in Syria for civilians are the markets, hospitals and schools that continue to operate in desperate conditions and amid constant threat of attack. 

Not To Forget

Despite the UN Security Council's demand [7] in February 2014 that indiscriminate attacks should stop, barrel bombs in Syria continue to bring death from above [8]on a daily basis, killing innocent Syrians on all sides of the conflict. The #withSyria Campaign posted [9] a film called “In Reverse” on Youtube showing a playback story of innocent Syrians children were playing football hit by a random bombing in Syria. [Warning Graphic footage.]

The video ends with a link to a petition which urges world leaders at the UN General Assembly in New York to ask the UN Security Council to take concrete steps to end indiscriminate bombings in Syria. The target is 100K. However, campaign organisers say the more the signatures, the more pressure on world leaders and therefore the UN Security Council.

#WithSyria took the lead on both Twitter and Facebook [10] trends earlier this week to argue the world leaders to not miss this chance to act on their pledge.
#WithSyria Tweets [11]

What to do next?

Cristiano Ronaldo supports #withSyria [12]

If you have made it this far down the article, then THANKS IN ADVANCE on behalf of all Syrians, on behalf of a Syrian who was forced to be a refugee outside his home, watching his country being destroyed, his people being killed, and its future generations lost between the camps, bombed schools and displaced families. Just because it isn't happening near you, doesn't mean it isn't happening.

By taking action, you are not showing your concerns only, but you join thousands of activists around the world to save Syrian civilians lives. Here are the ways you can help:

  1. Join the campaign with other 130 NGOs by tweeting the Hash-tag #WithSyria
  2. Watch the video and a sign the petition.
  3. Share the video.
  4. Email your followers, your supporters, and your fans to share the petition as widely as possible.
  5. You can use one of the images from here [13] to enrich your tweets. They were especially created for this stage of the campaign.