Hundreds of Algerians expressed their solidarity and empathy for Moroccan child Rayan, who has been trapped in a deep well since Wednesday morning. Social media users in Algeria have been following the incident with great interest, raising their hands in prayer for the 5-year-old boy. Algerians remembered the case of the late Algerian youth Ayache Mahjoub, who spent nine days in a metal pipe in a well in the Um al-Shamal area of the al-Hawamid municipality in southern M'sila in 2018, where the rescue efforts lasted more than 200 hours but ultimately failed, resulting in Ayache's death.
Algerian pages on social media tweeted prayers for Rayan, sharing dozens of posts calling for the child and his fellow villagers' relief. The "Nass Jijel" page commented on the situation, stating: "A case similar to Ayache's, may he rest in peace, is returning, but this time in the region of Chefchaouen in the brotherly Morocco. Five-year-old Rayan fell into a well with a diameter of 30 cm and a depth of 60 meters for over 24 hours. The civil protection team is providing Rayan with oxygen and water after confirming that the child is alive and trapped in the well. Pray significantly."
The "Nass Setif Al-Ali" page posted: "Moroccan operations are ongoing, and they may continue for hours. Rayan is still breathing thanks to your prayers." The "Al-Jamia" page shared: "God willing, five-year-old Rayan from brotherly Morocco will come out alive tonight. Please pray for his safety and well-being."
As if he were a son of Algeria, Algerian coach Mourad Belmahi posted on his page: "O Allah, just as You brought our Lord Yunus from the belly of the whale, bring Rayan out of the abyss and return him safely to his parents. Our hearts are with the Moroccan child Rayan." Algerian citizen Boumediene Khalef wrote: "The heroic child Rayan, aged 5, is still alive. They inspected the well again via phone and discovered he is still thriving, sitting at the bottom of the well waiting for rescue attempts. Hold on a little longer, Rayan, the entire Algerian people is praying for you."
Yassine Kamal wrote: "Our hearts are with Moroccan child Rayan after he fell into a deep well. O Allah, bring him out safely just as You brought our Lord Yunus from the belly of the whale, for You are capable of everything." Algerian journalist Abdel Rahim Bounamir said: "O God, my heart is with child Rayan from Morocco; I felt as though he were my son and the memory of Ayache returned to me, may God have mercy on him. I hope the child is rescued; be patient, my dear, resist; you will shine and flourish, God willing."
Real Emotions
Algerian researcher Nasser Jabi, a specialist in political sociology, described this phenomenon of empathy between the two peoples as completely natural. Jabi told "Sky News Arabia": "The relations between the two peoples remain very strong and compel genuine emotions in such events and natural crises like earthquakes and floods that may strike one country or the other." He noted that there is an emotional closeness between the two peoples due to history, language, and culture, stating: "Those emotions remain stronger than all political issues, despite their importance, and peoples look to the future as they see that there will come a time when the regimes will meet and surpass political conflict inevitably."
