Education activist and 2014 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Malala Yousafzai called reports of atrocities against civilians in Aleppo, committed by pro-Syrian government forces, "the worst of our past repeating itself."
"History shows us the same children suffering, the ones we always say we surely would have helped, if only we had been there. But history does not fall from the sky, it is us who make it," she said in a statement shared on the Malala Fund's Facebook page on Wednesday.
"But prayers are not enough. We must act. The international community must do everything they can to end to this inhumane war," she added.
Rebels alleged that 82 civilians were executed in Aleppo by pro-government forces and also blamed them for the 30,000 civilian deaths during the battle for the city. An emergency United Nations meeting was called on Tuesday amid reports of the executions of civilians.
"To the children under siege in Aleppo, I pray that you will get out safely," Yousafzai said. "I pray that you will grow up strong, go to school and see peace in your country some day."
Here's Yousafzai's full statement:
Today I feel as though I'm watching the worst of our past repeat itself.
When I look at Syria, I see the Rwandan genocide. When I read the desperate words of Bana Alabed in Aleppo, I see Anne Frank in Amsterdam.History shows us the same children suffering, the ones we always say we surely would have helped, if only we had been there. But history does not fall from the sky, it is us who make it.
To the children under siege in Aleppo, I pray that you will get out safely. I pray that you will grow up strong, go to school and see peace in your country some day.
But prayers are not enough. We must act. The international community must do everything they can to end to this inhumane war. The Syrian regime must give safe passage to people who want to leave and allow aid workers into Aleppo to save as many lives as they can.
May God be with the children of Aleppo, even if our world leaders are not.
