Photo of bloodied Syrian boy reflects a year of horror in Aleppo and Mosul

World
Europe

-The conflict in Syria has lasted over five years and many worry the international community is suffering from “news fatigue” over the conflict, ceasing to care

-One photograph in 2016 proved pivotal in shifting public opinion and awareness about the conflict internationally

-The photograph of a small boy in the back of an ambulance was seen by some as showing the “shocking reality” of the conflict, while Syrian government and Russian spokespersons have described it as “propaganda”

2016 witnessed further devastation in both Syria and Iraq. Aleppo and Mosul were focal points of conflicts in which thousands were killed this year alone. Millions have been displaced by the turmoil, with beleaguered migrants and refugees fleeing from their homes to uncertain lives in unfamiliar surroundings.

Smoke rises after reported opposition fire from buildings in an eastern government-held neighborhood of Aleppo, October 20, 2016. /CFP Photo

Two tragic images shocked societies across the globe in 2016. Photos and videos of a bloodied Omran Daqneesh sitting hopelessly in an ambulance awaiting help spread across the Internet and triggered renewed international alarm about the crisis in Aleppo. And a picture showing a lifeless child’s body – later revealed to be Aylan Kurdi - lying alone on a Turkish beach drew wide attention to the plight of refugees fleeing the war-torn Middle East. These heart-breaking sights brought home to people living in comfort and security the horrors of conflict, forcing many to face up to the humanitarian disaster that is destroying the lives of innocent humans.

Young migrant Aylan Kurdi, who drowned in a failed attempt to sail to the Greek island of Kos, lies on the shore in the Turkish coastal town of Bodrum, Turkey, September 2, 2015. /CFP Photo

Catastrophic unrest is not new for a region that has been beset by conflicts for decades, driving children such as Omran and Aylan into desperate circumstances. But the escalating battles in Syria and Iraq in 2016 have exacerbated an already devastating crisis.

Over the past year, both Syria’s Aleppo and Iraq’s Mosul have suffered bloodshed on a massive scale.

Iraqi forces conduct a mission against ISIL positions in Mosul, Iraq, November 4, 2016. /CFP Photo

ISIL has occupied the Iraqi city for more than two years. But Iraq’s military, backed by Kurdish and US allies, started a long-awaited operation to take back Mosul from ISIL in October.

Some 550 kilometers away, the civilians of Aleppo have also been innocent victims of slaughter, living in fear under aerial bombardment, with both Moscow and Washington blaming each other for atrocities. War crime accusations have been batted about in a political game that has done little to help the civilians in the eye of the storm. UN human rights chief Zeid bin Ra’ad al-Hussein has described Aleppo as a “slaughterhouse.” In December 2016 Syrian government forces took control of the city.

A Syrian rebel fighter fires his rifle during an attack on the headquarters of Assad regime forces during an operation to break the siege of Aleppo on October 29, 2016. /Getty Images, CFP Photo

While many have pushed for ceasefire agreements in Syria, the countries involved in the conflicts still have much work to do to reach a long-lasting solution. Diplomats, analysts and commentators have expressed different views on the crises facing Aleppo and Mosul, but one unanswered question remains: when, if ever, can the civilians return to their homes, to live out a normal life?

Questions for 2017

-In October, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said capturing Aleppo would be "the springboard” for government forces to retake other parts of the country, will 2017 prove him right?

-Allegations of “war crimes” have been leveled at various stages during the conflict, will anyone face “justice” in 2017?

People see relatives who had fled Mosul at a fence surrounding Al-Khazer refugee camp in east of Mosul, Iraq, November 4, 2016. /CFP Photo

-With an increasing number of photographs flooding our smartphones and social media apps, how important is photojournalism in 2017

(Written by Chen Chen; Edited by John Goodrich and Marcus Ryder; Video edited by Zhou Jinxi; Room with a View produced by Tian Yi)