London, UK, 5th June 2016. Osama Jumaa has been killed after being hit by bombardments caused by artillery fire launched by the Syrian government in the district of Al-Mashad in Aleppo. Osama had gone to that neighborhood to film the rescue of people trapped under the rubble following the bombardments. As soon as the ambulance in which Osama was travelling had reached the site, the vehicle was hit by artillery fire and Osama was injured. As the driver, himself a paramedic, attempted to rescue Osama, they were both hit by artillery fire and both Osama and the driver lost their life. We announce the news with our deepest sorrow. Osama was an extremely brave, independent, impartial young journalist with deep integrity and great humanity.
Osama had trained in Turkey in journalism and photography with Images Live. Medyan Dairieh had known Osama’s family from the inception of the Syrian revolution and was hosted by them whenever he went to Syria to cover the situation there. Osama’s entire family has always been extremely hospitable and kind to Medyan. Unlike many other Syrian youngsters and young men during the Syrian Revolution, Osama has kept himself separate from all the warring factions maintaining an impartial approach to the conflict that was reflected in his impartiality and great professionalism as a journalist.
Osama trained in Turkey in journalism, photography, as well as in the production of documentaries with Images Live. Osama was also trained on the ground in Syria by Medyan Dairieh. The teaching had focused greatly on the necessity of impartiality, independence, and integrity of the journalist in reporting the news. It also emphasized the duty of journalists to show all the parties involved in the conflict, while at the same time to remain objective and not to embrace any particular view. Osama had absorbed with extreme ease these principles of journalism. Unlike many other young Syrians during the Syrian conflict, Osama had not joined any of the warring factions nor any party or organization in Syria, thus maintaining an unbiased approach to the conflict that was reflected in his impartiality and great professionalism as a journalist.
