Beirut: The father of Alan Kurdi, the young Syrian boy pictured washed up on a Turkish beach who became a symbol of the refugee crisis, has accused the world of turning its back on Syria as people continue to die.
On the eve of the first anniversary of his son's death, Abdullah Kurdi pleaded with the international community to act to stop the bloodshed in his country, saying the attention paid to his family's misfortune had saved nothing.
More News Videos
- Video duration
- 01:22
6500 migrants rescued off Libyan coast
- Video duration
- 00:42
'Budgie 9' cautioned after Malaysian incident
- Video duration
- 00:29
Aaron Smith apologies for âtoilet trystâ
- Video duration
- 04:25
The US electoral college - explained with M&Ms;
- Video duration
- 01:11
'Budgie nine' arrive at Malaysian court
- Video duration
- 00:00
LIVE: Trump and Clinton deputies face off
- Video duration
- 00:49
Obama hails 'historic day' in climate change fight
- Video duration
- 01:09
Superhero funeral for six-year-old gunshot victim
6500 migrants rescued off Libyan coast
RAW VISION: The Italian navy and two NGO's rescue 6500 migrants, mostly from Eritrea, from the Mediterranean Sea.
"The politicians said after the deaths in my family: Never again!" Mr Kurdi, 41, said on Thursday.
"Everyone claimed they wanted to do something because of the photo that touched them so much. But what is happening now? People are still dying and nobody is doing anything about it."
In September last year, Mr Kurdi's wife Rehab, Alan, three, and his oldest son Galip, five, drowned after their boat took on water and capsized in the Mediterranean as the family tried to reach Europe. Wearing a red T-shirt and denim shorts as he lay face-down in the sand, the shocking image of Alan drew the world's attention to the deadly journey made by thousands of migrants.
Mr Kurdi, a Syrian Kurd from the town of Kobane, told the German newspaper Bild that it was right for the photo of his son to be published.
"These things must be shown to make clear to people what is happening, But in the end the picture did not change much. The horror in Syria must finally stop," he said, speaking from his apartment in Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, where he lives alone.
He has kept his late son's stuffed toys in a cabinet in the living room to remember him by. "Now I'm probably safer than I've ever been in my life," he said. "But for what?"
The picture helped shape the debate on the migrant crisis and was responsible in part for Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to open Germany's doors to refugees.
In Britain, more than 100,000 people marched on the streets in reaction to the image to call on the government to welcome refugees. It led to David Cameron, then prime minister, promising that the UK would take in 4000 Syrian refugees a year - a target it has yet to reach.
This week a new report said many of the thousands of refugees and migrants who have died crossing the Mediterranean have not been identified, leaving their families further traumatised.
And many of the bereaved are not being properly cared for, says Dr Simon Robins, lead author of the Mediterranean Missing report.
"One year after the body of Alan Kurdi was washed up on a beach in Turkey, thousands of children continue to die in the Mediterranean and Aegean seas," said Steve Symonds, of Amnesty International UK.
"The global response to the refugee crisis since Alan's death has been an utter disaster."
The flow of migrants to Europe has been stemmed under a deal between Turkey and the EU. But amid delays in implementing the deal, thousands remain penned up in Greece, where on Thursday migrants and refugees mounted protests.
The conflict in Syria, now in its sixth year, has only deteriorated since Alan's death. A new viral picture, again of a three-year-Syrian boy, highlighted the dire situation in Aleppo, which has been pummelled by bombs. Omran Daqneesh was pictured covered in dust and bleeding after an air strike on his family's home last month. He survived with light injuries but his 10-year-old brother died.
Telegraph, London; with Nick Miller
4 comments
New User? Sign up