THIS often painful to watch documentary was a powerful reminder of the human face of war.

Not the soldiers killed or injured in the course of duty, but the innocent bystanders, especially children, who suffer.

The film focused on two boys among the thousands injured in the Allied attacks on Baghdad, which destroyed homes and wiped out entire families.

One boy, Ali Abbas, you've probably heard of. He lost both arms and became the centre of media attention as the "tragic poster boy for Iraq's innocence".

Ali Hussein had severe facial injuries. As photographs showed, his face was split in two, he lost an eye and suffered shrapnel wounds.

Both ended up having plastic surgery in the same hospital in Kuwait, but from there, their stories took different routes.

The difference was made clear because the documentary showed far more footage of Ali Hussein than Ali Abbas. This was because the latter was "adopted" by the press and TV. Realising the boy was a famous, his uncle charged people to film him.

A bidding war broke out with a British charity winning the auction to send Ali Abbas to England to get new arms, while The Mirror and Trevor McDonald Tonight bought exclusive rights to his story. He was treated like showbiz wedding photographs in a glossy magazine, with £75,000 being the final price paid.

There was no private jet to fly Ali Hussein to England. This lively and talkative lad, described as "a very social boy", was sent home after the authorities postponed further surgery. He has no media sponsor like the other Ali. As a relative said: "One eye, no teeth, no nose, so he can't breathe. Ali has no future".

The difference was accentuated by the gifts children in the hospital received from well-wishers. Ali Abbas needed a whole room to store them. The others could get their presents in a cupboard.

The outlook for these youngsters, many orphaned in the bombings, is uncertain, even if they make full recoveries from their injuries. What happens to them is decided by the coalition forces. Even returning them to Iraq is potentially dangerous with the situation still unsettled. An American spoke of taking them right to their front doors if necessary, which seemed an unfortunate phrase considering many had seen their homes reduced to rubble.

Undoubtedly, the programme will stir people's consciences, with viewers offering help to Ali Hussein and the other children. Whether this interest will ever reach the level of Ali Abbas's aid must be doubtful.

Published: 26/09/2003