On May 11, 2016, ISIL suicide bombers spread chaos and carnage in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, in an apparent effort to distract attention away from their recent setbacks. The militant group carried out four separate attacks marking the year’s most deadly day in which more than 90 lives were claimed. The greatest number of casualties resulted from the bombing of a public market at rush hour in the Baghdad neighborhood Sadr City, in which at least 65 civilians were killed and more than 120 wounded, among them many women and children. Residents of Sadr City were met with a terrifying scene when they arrived at the location of the bombing searching for their relatives and loved ones. In the confusion, families and friends became separated; Some of those seriously injured in hospitals had no idea where their families were or if they were even alive.
One of the victims was Judi Haidar, a four-year-old boy who lost his mother during the attack was alone in intensive care at Adnan hospital. Nobody immediately claimed the young victim of the horrendous attack. Alhurra-Iraq posted a video on its Facebook page about the poignant story of the child alone in a hospital. As a result of the post, the boy’s father was able to promptly locate and reunite with his son at the hospital. Within one day, the video received more than 200,000 views and 366 comments expressing sympathy for the victims and condemning the perpetrators of the explosion.
Alhurra-Iraq not only provides balanced and accurate reporting on Iraq but also contributes constructively to help Iraqis overcome difficulties. As one commenter stated, “You are the true Iraqis who care about Iraq and its citizens.”