The much-circulated photo of a 5-year-old boy, sitting bloodied, covered in dust, and dazed after bombings destroyed his home in war-torn Aleppo, Syria, brought CNN host Kate Bolduan to tears during a powerful Thursday broadcast.
“According to activists, this is Omran,” Bolduan began, as the viral photo of the child appeared on-screen. She took several beats of silence to breathe deeply and regain composure before continuing.
“He lives with his mom, his dad and his brother and sister. Their home is inside Aleppo, Syria. It was hit by a bomb, an air strike. Who is behind it? We do not know,” she said.
After rolling footage of the boy sitting quietly amid chaotic rescue efforts, Bolduan said, “Omran is left inside that ambulance alone, bloodied, as rescuers go back into the rubble looking for anyone else who may have survived. His family did.”
“What strikes me is we shed tears, but there are no tears here. He doesn’t cry once. That little boy is in total shock. He’s stunned,” she continued, choking up. “He’s inside his home one moment and the next he’s lost in the fury of war and chaos.”
The camera lingered on the photo of the boy for a moment of silence before going to a break.
It’s really worth watching the whole clip via CNN:
Heartbreaking image of little boy in Syria brings @KateBolduan to tears: He’s alive, we wanted you to know. https://t.co/uexYS2eyJ3
— CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) August 18, 2016
