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World Reacts To Photo Of Syrian Child

By Syma Chowdhry

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It's an image that's been seen around the world.

The body of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi washed onto a beach in Turkey.

The now iconic photo represents the struggle of Syrian refugees.

They're fleeing their war torn country or die trying.

Aylan, his five-year-old brother and their mother died after a boat they were on capsized in the Mediterranean Sea.

The father -- the only surviving member of the family -- crossed back into Syria to bury his wife and two young sons Friday.

Handan Duna moved to the U.S. from Turkey 10 months ago.

Her family owns Kabobeesh restaurant on 4th near South Street.

She has seen the struggle of Syrian refugees in her own country.

But the photo of the boy is an image she can't shake.

"Looking over and over at the picture. It's just terrible," she said.  " He was just a little kid only three years old, what do you want from him?  This has to stop, people have to live like humans. They have the right to live like humans in this world."

Congressman Patrick Meehan reacted to the photo.

"I'm a parent," he explained.  "It's tragic and you begin to feel it viscerally because anybody can look at that kind of a child and think could that be mine?"

He believes this will be on the minds of many when Congress reconvenes next week.

Meehan didn't support a military strike in Syria two years ago but does support a no-fly zone and other ideas to improve civilian lives.

"We need to do more to work with the creation of a safe zone inside Syria protecting an area in which there wouldn't be the need for those who are fleeing to need to move further," Meehan said.

The U.S. has reportedly taken in less than 1,000 refugees from Syria since the war began.

Meehan said the country accepts 70,000 refugees a year from all over the world.

"Change the order so to speak of those who come in. I think it is reasonable to look to Syria but we won't solve this issue," he added.   "We've got to deal with the crisis far more effectively."

The congressman named several different organizations accepting donations to help Syrian Refugees to get that information log onto:

http://www.moas.eu/

http://www.savethechildren.org/Syria

https://www.icrc.org/en/where-we-work/middle-east/syria 

 

 

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