An Irishman has set up an appeal for the children of war-torn Aleppo

As hard as they are to look at, we've all seen the images.

by Ollie Skehan #ALittleforAleppo will not break you, far from it, but it could make a massive difference to a completely shattered people. Over 40% of the children left in what remains of Aleppo are now orphans in a war zone that doesn't bear thinking about. Last night I tucked my baby boy into bed, gave him Peppa and panda, caressed his soft, sticky cheek, put my finger in his tiny hand and told him I loved him and that I'd see him later, in the morning. He's lucky, we both are. https://youtu.be/CKuB0oPi86w Luck is something alien to the orphans of Aleppo. But there is hope, even if it is just a glimmer.

With over 50 orphans in its care and with room for up to 100 more, Moumayazoun (Outstanding guys) orphanage is the ONLY orphanage in Aleppo.

The underground orphanage first came to my attention when I read Emma Graham-Harrison's piece in The Guardian about the subterranean refuge run by former trader Asmar Halabi and his wife, who have devoted their lives to giving Aleppo's most vulnerable a safe haven in a side of a city where hardly anywhere is safe. Imagine trying to live out a childhood in Aleppo. Imagine trying to live out a childhood in Aleppo with no parents. Imagine trying to live out a childhood in Aleppo "afraid of bombing day and night". Imagine. As (some of) the children of Aleppo return to school it seems that all the world can offer is despair and disbelief, but you don't have to feel helpless or hopeless. Come on. You can offer some hope to the orphans of Moumayazoun, orphans that might some day be the future of what is now a country ripped apart. To donate and help the orphans of Moumayazoun please click here - ALL money raised will go directly to the orphanage in a bid to provide protection as well as food, clothing, education and joy in what is a near joyless city but most of all hope and love. #ALittleForAleppo is not going to trouble world leaders, heads of state, dignitaries or their like but if you can go to the trouble of giving a little to the children, the future of whatever Syria will become, you'll have done a lot. A little, please.