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In the besieged Syrian city, a 24-year-old named Anas al-Basha put on make-up and a clown costume, to entertain and comfort children in the rebel-held area of the city. On Tuesday, Anas al-Basha was killed in an airstrike.

​ Anas al-Basha, 24, known as the "Clown of Aleppo" was killed on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016 in a presumed government or Russian ballistic missile strike on the Mashhad neighbourhood in the besieged, eastern side of Aleppo city. (Ahmad al-Khatib/AP)

Mahmoud al-Basha is Anas's brother. He spoke with As It Happens guest host Dave Seglins. Here is part of their conversation. He was known as the "clown of Aleppo."In the besieged Syrian city, a 24-year-old named Anas al-Basha put on make-up and a clown costume, to entertain and comfort children in the rebel-held area of the city. On Tuesday, Anas al-Basha was killed in an airstrike.Mahmoud al-Basha is Anas's brother. He spoke with As It Happens guest host Dave Seglins. Here is part of their conversation.

Dave Seglins: Mahmoud, my condolences on the loss of your brother ... Why did he want to start acting as a clown?



Mahmoud al-Basha: Anas loved the children so much, especially the orphans. He decided to do something special and different than the others are doing. All the NGOs, they are focusing on the food baskets and the medical stuff but Anas wants to always do something special for the children. Especially in this war, since five years, nobody is caring about these children. If they are happy or not. If they have hope or not. So Anas joined a team. They called themselves Space for Hope. They organized parties and trips for these children.

(ZEIN AL-RIFAI/AFP/Getty Images)

DS: He is in costume. That must have been a strange thing for the children. How did they react? Mahmoud, my condolences on the loss of your brother ... Why did he want to start acting as a clown?Anas loved the children so much, especially the orphans. He decided to do something special and different than the others are doing. All the NGOs, they are focusing on the food baskets and the medical stuff but Anas wants to always do something special for the children. Especially in this war, since five years, nobody is caring about these children. If they are happy or not. If they have hope or not. So Anas joined a team. They called themselves Space for Hope. They organized parties and trips for these children.He is in costume. That must have been a strange thing for the children. How did they react?