Heart-wrenching image sums up the only two choices open to Syrian children

Photo of dazed Omran Daqneesh symbolises the plight of Syrians living in the war-torn country

The war in Syria has left children there with only two horrifying choices: whether to embark on a dangerous journey across the sea or to stay and face the unceasing bombing.

Last year, a heartbreaking image of drowned Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi became a symbol of migrant crisis. And this year, it is the photo of dazed Omran Daqneesh, a child retrieved on Wednesday from rubble following an airstrike in Aleppo, which has become the symbol of the plight of Syrians living in the war-torn country.

Doctor in #Aleppo just sent this photo of a dazed child who survived an airstrike pic.twitter.com/IHLDc6KPh8

— Raf Sanchez (@rafsanchez) August 17, 2016

A Sudanese artist, based in Qatar, perfectly depicted the deadly choice available to Syrian children in an illustration, which has been shared widely on social media.

#Khartoon - Choices #OmranDaqneesh 5 pulled from under the ruins, #AylanKurdi 3 drowned in the Mediterranean #Syria pic.twitter.com/Y4XQgfKgHt

— ود البيه (@khalidalbaih) August 18, 2016

"The picture describes two scenes from different time periods, but the same war and struggle of Syrian people and refugees of war all over the world. Omran who was pulled from under the ruins after a Russian air strike in Aleppo and also of Aylan who drowned in the Mediterranean," Khalid Albaih told CNN.

When asked what inspired him to draw the pictures, Albaih said, "My inspiration came from the fact that I consider myself a refugee. My children are within the same age and could also be in the same (situation)."



More than 300,000 Syrians are estimated to have been killed in the country’s civil war and it is impossible to know how many civilians have died in airstrikes in Aleppo in recent weeks.

Albaih's illustration has been reshared hundreds of times on social media.

[fbpost link="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1205359562819263&set=a.603161276372431.1073741843.100000356919392&type=3&theater"]

https://twitter.com/missyasin/status/766286067251249154

Choices for Syrian Children - Omran Daqneesh, 5yr old hit in #Aleppo. 3yr old Aylan Kurdi drowned in the Med. #Syria pic.twitter.com/nWyHPRgDQN

— Boutaïna Azzabi Ezzaouia (@Boutaina) August 18, 2016

my heart is broken in so many pieces. Couldn't stop crying for these boys and children like them.

— Vinh The Tran, Esq. (@TOMobileLawyer) August 18, 2016

This article originally appeared on CNN.