MORE than 100 people turned out for a candlelit vigil in Aberystwyth in support of people living in the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo.

The Stand with Aleppo solidarity event was held on Owain Glyndwr Square, where residents, including Syrian refugees who have resettled here, came together to speak out about the need to protect civilians trapped in Aleppo as government forces closed in.

Candles were lit and arranged to spell out the name of the ancient Syrian city, where some refugees living here are originally from, as speakers addressed the crowd.

Ahmad Al Najjar who, along with other Syrian refugees living in Aberystwyth, was among the first to be resettled in Wales, said: “I would like to thank everyone who came to stand with Aleppo and with the Syrians.

“Aberystwyth is a very nice town and its people are more than wonderful. In fact, I didn’t expect that many people will come to stand with us and support us.

“It was a small protest to highlight the bloodshed in Syria, especially in Aleppo, where the people are living now under fire and explosive barrel bombs.

“The hospitals are still being bombed and civilians are killed on a daily basis.

“We can’t help, we can’t do anything.

“Maybe if we do something like this, it can help to show them how much we think of them.”

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