In the most heartwarming media to come out of the United Nations Refugee Summit, Obama posted a video to Facebook last night after 6-year-old Alex wrote him a letter asking him to bring Omran Daqneesh to the US. The viral video already has gained over 6 million views overnight.
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“Dear President Obama, remember the boy who was picked up by the ambulance in Syria? Can you please go get him and bring him to our home?” writes Alex.
He then goes on with clear directions for the president of the US to simply park in the driveway upon which Alex will welcome Omran as his brother.
Possibly the best older brother in the world, Alex says his younger sister will also be happy to have a new brother. They will collect fireflies and butterflies to welcome Omran.
“We can invite him to birthday parties and he will teach us another language.”
Seriously, where is the Kleenex?
At the age of six, Alex understands that over half of the world’s refugees and migrants are children. He also gets it that every child needs to be in school.
Alex has a classmate Omar who is also from Syria, so Omran will have someone he can relate to, Alex says, and play with at school. They “can all play together.” Right now, Omran is likely one of 3.7 million children out of school because of conflict.
Read More: Half of All Child Refugees Aren't in School: Why This Is a Massive Problem
Obama recently announced plans for the US to accept more refugees. Still 30% of child refugees in the world come from Syria, accepting and welcoming the most vulnerable must be a priority.
We worry the world will forget about Omran, and world leaders will not take action to end the conflict in Syria. But today, this young boy reminds the world welcoming refugees can be as easy as “parking in driveway.”
"We should all be more like Alex. Imagine what the world would look like if we were. Imagine the suffering we could ease and the lives we could save. Listen to Alex, read his letter, and I think you'll understand why I shared it with the world." Obama wrote via Facebook.
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