Images

Updated 22 Jul, 2016

Lately, Pokemon images of a slightly different kind have been circulating on social media.

Drawing from the game's goal of seeking out and catching Pokemon, the pictures feature Syrian children holding up placards that read: "I am here, come save me". along with an image of a Pokemon and the location of the child.

The images are a plea to the world, that's taken a liking to Pokemon, to not forget Syria that's been at war for five years.

Written in Arabic, one image reads: “I live in Kafr Nabl, the Aleppo countryside. Come catch me.”

And another: “I am a Pokémon at Idlib in Syria, would you please come and save me?”

These pictures are being shared by the Revolutionary Forces of Syria Media Office (RFS) in hopes of getting these children's pleas across internationally and bring the world's attention to the Syria crisis.

A spokesperon for RFS told The Independent: "With the media spread wide for Pokemon game we decided to publish these images to highlight the suffering of the Syrian people from the bombing of the forces of order and Air-Assad to the Syrian people and besiege them.

"We want to raise awareness and draw attention to the plight of Syrian children in besieged areas and the suffering of Syrian people who are attacked and killed by the Assad regime and its allies."

The Independent reports the images have been circulated more than 21,500 times.

They are not the only ones using Pokemon Go to raise awareness in Syria, graphic designer Saif Aldeen Tahhan is also using the app to show the gruesome destruction the country is going through.

“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,” The Telegraph quoted him as having said.

“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,” he told Al Arabiya.

The five-year civil war has cost the lives of countless innocents and has left more than a quarter of a million children living under siege, according to Save The Children.

Comments

Mehreen Jul 22, 2016 02:13pm
This is extremely depressing :(
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ak Jul 22, 2016 02:34pm
There are alot of things that we take for granted, never realizing to some, they are luxuries. I am a very rational man, somewhat emotionless, but these pictures have watered my eyes. May Allah give us the strength to better this situation.
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saba Jul 22, 2016 02:55pm
couldn't stop my tears. its heartbreaking. When this world will stop killing these innocent children.
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kafait Jul 22, 2016 03:18pm
shame on the so-called civilized world
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Qamar Valliani Jul 22, 2016 04:07pm
The oil rich Arab countries should be ashamed of themselves. They have never helped or supported Muslims of Gaza, Syria, Turkey, Kashmir, Iraq, Libya, Baharain, Yemen and others. Time will come when they will find themselves all alone.
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Amjad Ali Jul 22, 2016 04:14pm
Oh my God we are helpless in this situation and can't do anything except prayers. The Saudi Clerics have declared Pokemon go prohibited in Islamic law, now i understand why they have declared it prohibited.
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Jay Jul 22, 2016 05:20pm
Why don't Islamic nations take these refugees?? It totally boggles the mind to think that these nations have hundreds of billions of dollars in savings and yet they won't save their own kind !!
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Iqbal Hadi Zaidi Jul 22, 2016 05:33pm
Life is awfully terrible and explosive and the world at large i I wonder is either keeping silent or at the most sending some aid but nothing more than that which is going on for over 5 years. Cant blood be stopped? Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait / zaidi4merdiplomat@hotmail.com
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irfan Jul 22, 2016 06:49pm
Extremely depressing. Almost the same situation in Kashmir. Shame on our noble Muslim leaders around the world for keeping quiet. And off course the international media is quite vocal on Qandeel Baloch issue but kept quiet on the carnage of innocent children.
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Sameer Jul 23, 2016 06:39am
Saif Aldeen Tahhan thank you for highlighting this genocide. World powers must cease and desist this mockery of human rights.
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Moby Moby Jul 23, 2016 07:07am
Where are the oil rich Arab countries? The Western World is shouldering a much larger burden of these refugees than the so-called guardians of the holy sites. Hypocrisy reigns supreme in the land of the pure.
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