Syrian #IAmStillAlive activist killed in Eastern Ghouta

Syrian activist Ahmad Hamdan, who raised awareness of the plight of people in eastern Ghouta with the hashtag #IAmStillAlive, was killed last night after a bomb struck his home in the town of Hamouriya.

Ahmad Hamdan he launched the #IamStillAlive campaign from inside #Ghouta. today got killed by the Russian airstrikes targeted #Hamoriyah town in #Eastern_Ghouta.
R.I.P Ahmad pic.twitter.com/yVnYuK1hTv

— Asaad Sam Hanna (@AsaadHannaa) March 14, 2018

The 26-year-old filmmaker started using the hashtag #IAmStillAlive earlier this month, writing on Facebook: “We’re still alive, living here between death, siege or bombardment. I invite the whole world to stand by us. We launch our campaign today #IAmStillAlive. Invite the world to stand with us.”

Syrians in Ghouta quickly started to use the hashtag, or the Arabic equivalent to post pictures from the ground and convey the resilience of the people in the besieged enclave.

https://twitter.com/Noor_and_Alaa/status/969260184001437697

#أنا_عايش #Iamstillalive pic.twitter.com/q6eJQC8FQH

— Sarah Mahmood Al Shinnawi (@sara_shinnawi) March 7, 2018

The humanitarian situation in the eastern Ghouta needs direct intervention from the international community @un @NRC_Egeland … enough silence … daily massacres, death and terror everywhere#EasternGhouta#IAMSTILLALIVE pic.twitter.com/oiQsGFF3jM

— Amer almohibany (@amer_almohibany) March 4, 2018

People around the world also started using the hashtag to draw attention to the continued bombardment on the east Damascus suburb and show solidarity with the people trapped inside.

From #Turkey to #Eastern_Ghouta
I STAND WITH YOU#IamstillALive#أناعايش
Since 18/02/18, more than 900 air strikes, more than 600 civilians were killed and more than 2000 were injured. 2000 homes were destroyed
400000 people are still besieged and living in basements in #Ghouta pic.twitter.com/oBoQ4bB3qA

— Yaman Antabli – يمان عنتابلي (@YamanAntabli) March 2, 2018

The Syrian filmmakers at the Academy Awards, who were nominated for their film on the White Helmets in Aleppo, also took the opportunity at the ceremony to raise awareness of Eastern Ghouta.

Inside The #Oscars #Iamstillalive #SaveGhouta pic.twitter.com/6lDCYQrEeD

— Ahmad Mojahed (@Mojahedaboaljod) March 5, 2018

Read: Cristiano Ronaldo calls on eastern Ghouta children not to give up

Hamdan was killed by an airstrike in his hometown overnight, leaving behind his wife and his eight-month-old daughter. Despite having lived under siege for the past four years, he was known for having a good sense of humour and days before his death, messaged his friend, joking about his situation.

“I dug my grave yesterday,” he said. “So that I don’t have to bother myself with displacement.”

Ahmad recently wrote to a friend:
"I dug my grave yesterday 😊😊😊 So that I don't have to bother myself with displacement. Here is my grave"
This attitude is quite common among activists & fighters in Ghouta (but not civilians). pic.twitter.com/Cpw1BVGgGU

— Elizabeth Tsurkov🌻 (@Elizrael) March 14, 2018

His death has caused many to take to social media to honour his campaign, hailing him as a hero.

People from all over the world joint Ahmad's campaign and shared their solidarity photos with Ahmad and the people of #Ghouta, using same Hashtag.

Today Ahmad was killed by Assad regime bombing on #Hamoriah town.

Goodbye Ahmad.
R.I.P Hero.#IamStillAlive#SaveGhouta pic.twitter.com/tjlelVhuCV

— Siege Updates (@SiegeUpdates) March 14, 2018

Remember this hero?10 days ago Ahmad Hamdan launched #IamStillAlive from his home in besieged #EasternGhouta | everyone started RT and tweeting back. A whole https://t.co/I3ZwDEwMzw campaign followed. Today, Ahmad died in #Ghouta pic.twitter.com/YD0pU726xN

— Luna Safwan – لونا صفوان (@LunaSafwan) March 14, 2018

#Ahmad_hamdan killed today by Russian bombing in #eastghouta
he still lives in our hearts #iamstillalive #ghoutagenocide #russia_war_cup

— Waeel (@waeelmr) March 15, 2018

Let's keep his campaign #IAmStillAlive alive, then he'll still be alive – https://t.co/91IAqocrRA

— De Overdenking (@DeOverdenking) March 15, 2018

Hamouriyah was attacked with several bombs last night, including barrels of chlorine gas, according to the White Helmets. Hamdan was among 13 people who were killed with dozens more injured.

More than 1,200 people have been killed by the Syrian regime in the past month; over 800 were killed after the UN Security Council voted unanimously in favour of a 30-day ceasefire across Syria, as rescuers in Ghouta said a week of perpetual bombing had not let up long enough for them to count bodies during one of the bloodiest air assaults of the seven-year war.

Russia, which supported the Syrian regime’s offensive, has defended the ongoing campaign in Ghouta, despite continuous shelling preventing aid convoys from reaching the area, forcing many to turn back without unloading their cargo. The regime has permitted some evacuations to take place this week, with some 300 people so far having left Ghouta, mostly women and children.

Eastern Ghouta is also one of four de-escalation zones established last May by Russia, Iran and Turkey in order to stem the bloodshed of Syria’s six-year civil war. However, the region has experienced near constant bombardment for many months, with aid provision restricted, leaving 400,000 civilians struggling to survive.

Read: US warns Syria regime not to use poisonous gas