April 4th 2017 destroyed the family of 12-year-old Yusuff: Assad orders a poison gas attack on his own people in the small Syrian town of Khan Shaykhun; more than 80 people die. After an initial outpouring of shock from the rest of the world - a few days later life continues as though nothing has happened. Something few are aware of: On this day, Yusuff loses 29 relatives, and is now growing up without a father. What is life like for Yusuff and his family after the attack? This podcast searches for answers.

Alyom - The Podcast

Prologue

"Why is nothing happening, although you've proved that Assad attacked us with toxic gas?", Yussuf asks us via voicemail. We're also left wondering: Why is nobody doing anything? Why is the West just watching – and then turning away again? In Episode 3, in search of answers to these questions, we visit, among other places, the Spiez Laboratory in Switzerland, where samples from the 2013 poison gas attacks on Ghouta were examined. And we research the links between German companies and Syrian toxic gas. Why the international community does nothing. What other option is there but to flee. Yussuf's cousin Turki fled, to Germany. How are he and his wife experiencing the war from a distance? The fate of Yussuf's family is also our responsibility: Don't forget us! Because words alone aren't enough, we consider how else we can help.

Episode 3 – Yusuff's assignment

Yussuf often plays football after school. There used to be more kids on the field, but since April 4th, several are missing. They're dead. But even more children might have died if it hadn't been for those who risked their lives for others on April 4th. Abboud is one of them. He lives near Yussuf. He's woken up by the explosion, which occurs in the early morning. Seeing the many injured lying on the street, he does all he can to carry them to one of the few available ambulances. He's particularly worried about five-year-old Warda. After all, even if she makes it to the hospital alive, she's still not safe. Four hours after the toxic gas attack, Assad's regime drops more bombs on the town. This time, on the only hospital in Khan Shaykhun. Will Warda survive?

Episode 2 – The saviours of Khan Shaykhun

Eight months have passed since the toxic gas attack. For Yusuff, life goes on. But nothing is as it was. Yusuff's family home has been destroyed. His family too. Every Thursday, he goes to the cemetery: the sixth-grader visits his father and 28 other relatives. After six years of war, Yusuff has grown accustomed to many things: For example, that he can only go to school when the sky is clear of fighter jets. And to the sounds of shelling and rocket fire. What's left are fear, trauma and a sense of guilt. Now, since 4 April, the war has accompanied Yussuf day and night. Many of his playmates are simply no longer there. How is the boy dealing with his grief and loss?

Episode 1 - Yusuff's poisoned childhood

Alyom means "the day". It is April 4, 2017. Syria's dictator Assad drops poison gas over Chan Sheikhun. It is a war against his own nation, more than 80 people are cruelly killed, including many children. The message is spread around the globe within minutes – and just as fast it is forgotten again. The twelve-year-old Yusuff loses 29 relatives. His fate is the reason for this podcast. We talked to Yusuff, to the survivors of his family, to people who know the backgrounds. We must not avert our eyes when people are gassed. ALYOM wants to listen instead of looking away – and show why the barbaric crimes in Syria affect us all.