Social worker who dressed as a clown to make Aleppo’s traumatised kids smile killed in airstrikes
Scores more innocents were killed today as thousands of refugees flee
A SOCIAL worker who dressed as a clown in a bid to make the traumatised children of war-torn Aleppo smile is believed to have been killed as air strikes continue to rain down in the east of the city.
Anas al-Basha, 24, was centre director of Space for Hope, which provided counselling and financial support for 365 children who have lost one or both parents.
It is believed he was killed on Tuesday in a missile strike in the neighbourhood of Mashad, in the besieged eastern side of the Syrian city.
Russian bombers continue to pound the crumbling rebel stronghold and scores more innocents were killed today as thousands of refugees began flooding away from the deepening bloodbath.
But 250,000 people remain under siege, including 100,000 children with no functioning hospitals and virtually no food or water supplies.
related stories
Anas' brother Mahmoud paid tribute to him. He said: “He lived to make children laugh and happy in the darkest most dangerous place.
“Anas who refused to leave Aleppo and decided to stay there to continue his work as a volunteer, to help the civilians and give gifts for the children in the streets to bring hope for them.”
Anas' parents left Aleppo before the government began its siege of the rebel-held east last summer and he sent his salary to help them.
His supervisor, Samar Hijazi, said she will remember him as a friend who loved to work with children.
"He would act out skits for the children to break the walls between them.
"All of us in this field are exhausted, and we have to find strength to provide psychological support and continue with our work."
Space for Hope has suspended its operations in Aleppo for the time being.
Anas is survived by his wife of two months, who remains trapped in eastern Aleppo.
Today more than 200 humanitarian and human rights groups called for the UN General Assembly to address the crisis.
In a declaration published in New York, 223 signatories said the Security Council "has failed Syrians" and highlighting its inability to stop the regime's offensive against east Aleppo.
They called for the 193 member nations of the United Nations "to request an emergency special session to demand an end to all unlawful attacks in Aleppo and elsewhere in Syria, and immediate and unhindered humanitarian access" to besieged civilians.
The declaration also called on the UN to find a way to bring those responsible for serious crimes under international law in Syria to justice.
Today elite Syrian troops moved into east Aleppo ahead of a push into the most densely populated areas.
Government forces have pushed on despite international criticism and a UN warning that Aleppo risked becoming a "giant graveyard".
The artillery-backed offensive has spurred an exodus of tens of thousands of residents from the rebel-held east and Syrian regime ally Russia has called for a corridor to be set up to allow aid to enter the east of the city and the injured to be removed.
The loss of east Aleppo - a rebel stronghold since 2012 - would be the biggest blow to Syria's opposition in more than five years.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368