Artists create heartbreaking cartoons following drowned Syrian toddlers' deaths

Sad photographs of a drowned three-year-old Aylan Kurdi and his five-year-old brother, Galip, shocked and upset the world this week.

Aylan and Galip were photographed face down on a Turkish beach on Wednesday (Sep 2) after the boat they were in capsized. They are just two of the many victims of the unrest in Syria.

The heart-rending pictures of their lifeless bodies in the surf at one of Turkey's main tourist resorts has inspired artists from all around the world to draw tributes to the children.

Their deaths have also brought to light the urgency and dangers of Europe's refugee crisis.

Entertainment sites Buzzfeed and Bored Panda have featured 29 cartoons as a tribute to the dead toddlers.

The cartoons are being shared on social media under the hashtags #KiyiyaVuranInsanlik and #HumanityWashedAshore.

Wearing a red T-shirt and blue shorts, Aylan is believed to be one of least 12 Syrians who died when their boats sank trying to reach Greece. Aylan and Galip's family was reportedly leaving Syria and had tried to reach Canada prior to the tragic incident.

The children's father, Abdullah Kurdi, collapsed in tears after emerging from a morgue in the city of Mugla near Bodrum in Turkey where he identified their bodies, Reuters reported.

Mr Kurdi's wife, Rehan, 35, also perished along with their two sons.

"I was holding my wife's hand. My children slipped away from my hands. We tried to hold on to the boat," he said. "Everyone was screaming in pitch darkness. I couldn't make my voice heard to my wife and kids."

Click on the gallery to see more of the arists' cartoons.

stephluo@sph.com.sg