An international plea for a global day of prayer for Christians in Aleppo has gone out for this Sunday, 8 May.

The day of prayer has been prompted by the intensive bombing that has recently brought yet more devastation to the city, killing hundreds and even hitting hospitals according to Open Doors, the charity that serves persecuted Christians.

One of the people killed in the latest bombings was a baby aged just one minute.

"We are asking you to join us in an international prayer and fasting day for Aleppo. We are refusing to see the death any more in Syria, Aleppo especially, and we are declaring the resurrection of the Christ on our beloved country," said one Christian from Aleppo.

Another man described the attack on a hospital a few days ago: "Today, the hospital where my wife gave birth to our daughter was hit. This is the best hospital for giving birth in Aleppo. It is also considered as one of the most important hospitals for infertility treatment in the Middle East. The total amount of people killed is 17. These are the numbers from this hospital only. One of the martyrs is a baby, one minute old.

"For me and my wife, it is very symbolic. This is where my daughter was born and a place where new babies come to this world and new life begins. Today it is full of death and destruction."

At the start of the year, Open Doors partnered with a local church in Aleppo to dig a well to ensure a supply of clean water to the city after the water supply was regularly cut off in 2014 and 2015. Last year alone, Open Doors provided 50,000 people in Syria with food, medicines and rent.

One church leader from Aleppo said this earlier this year: "The living situation in Aleppo has become very difficult and tiring. There is no income for the majority of families in the city. Our work has never stopped, but has increased month by month. We are also working to support the people psychologically and morally, because we care about all aspects of the people.

"The people in Aleppo pray for you, as your aid is of great help to them. Thank you. We support them with all we can and with all our strength because the people in Aleppo are very tired and have even despaired because of the situation."

Syria is currently at number five on the Open Doors World Watch List.