Abdullah Kurdi, the father of a Syrian boy who drowned while sailing to Greece from Turkey, delivered a heartbreaking Christmas message Friday.
The images of 3-year-old Alan Kurdi lying lifeless on a Turkish beach shocked the world and personalised the horror of the refugee crisis.
The pictures appeared all over newspaper front pages.
U.K. newspapers choose to confront decision-makers and public with tragedy and outrage during breakfast
In the message, which was broadcast on Christmas Day at 3:35 p.m. (U.K. time) on U.K. news Channel 4, Kurdi called for empathy and understanding for those caught up in the refugee crisis.
He said: "My message is I'd like the whole world to open its doors to Syrians. If a person shuts a door in someone's face, this is very difficult. When a door is opened they no longer feel humiliated."
"At this time of year I would like to ask you all to think about the pain of fathers, mothers and children who are seeking peace and security," he said.
"We ask just for a little bit of sympathy from you."
The message was interspersed with footage of the refugee crisis and of dangerous Mediterranean crossings from Libya to Italy and from Turkey to Greece.