{
  "id": 2243228,
  "title": "PHOTO ESSAY: ‘Unfortunately, I am still alive’: Syrian sarin gas attack horror endures 13 years on",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/photo-essay-unfortunately-i-am-still-alive-syrian-sarin-gas-attack",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-20T22:54:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-08-21-unfortunately-i-am-still-alive-syrian-sarin-gas-attack-horror-endures-13-years-on/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Thirteen years after the sarin gas attack in Ghouta and Khan Sheikhoun, the horrors of the Syrian conflict continue to haunt the survivors. In a photo essay, the enduring impact of the tragedy is captured through the lives of Nebras, Rodina and Mohammed Abo Alkair.\n\nNebras, born on the morning Syria was gassed, is now almost 13 years old. He remains minimally verbal and unable to live independently, his cognitive development significantly impacted by the attack. His mother, Rodina, spent her entire pregnancy fearful of checkpoints that might impede her access to the hospital. When Nebras was born, his thyroid was failing and he struggled to develop at a normal pace. No one has yet examined if the lack of oxygen during childbirth contributed to his condition.\n\nAssad's relentless attacks have left Ghouta and Khan Sheikhoun in ruins. The once vibrant streets are now strewn with debris and rubble, a stark reminder of the lives lost. Despite the devastation, small signs of life remain, such as laundry hanging from shattered balconies. Nebras' family is the only one left in their heavily damaged apartment, their home now a testament to their resilience amidst the horror.\n\nThe innocence of Nebras' childhood was shattered on that fateful night, and he has never received the necessary help or follow-up for his condition. In a desperate attempt to give his eldest son a chance at a better life, Rodina encouraged him to flee to Europe in search of treatment. However, despite reaching Europe, Nebras' brother has been unable to secure the medical assistance he desperately needs.\n\nFor the victims of the attack, the horror never truly ends. The family still grapples with the loss of their entire community, and the memories of the devastation continue to haunt them. As Nebras turns 13 on the anniversary of the attack, his mother Rodina remains determined to hold onto hope for her son's future, even as the shadows of the past continue to loom over their lives.",
  "summary": "Feeling abandoned by the world, with no hint of justice, for the people in Ghouta and Khan Sheikhoun, left to endure lifelong injuries and trauma, Bashar al-Assad’s ferocious attacks have never ended.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}