Home of Harry Potter fan sent a book by JK Rowling is destroyed in Aleppo, Syria

Bana readingTwitter/@banaalabed

The Syrian home of a young Harry Potter fan who was sent a book by JK Rowling has been destroyed by bombing.

Writing on Twitter, Bana Alabed said she had "no house" and had almost died after shelling in the eastern part of Aleppo, where she lives.

JK Rowling sent an e-book to the seven-year-old after her mother messaged asking how her daughter could get hold of the Harry Potter novels.

Bana Alabed says she likes to read "to forget the war" around her.

But on Sunday night, her parent's house was bombed.

Bana, whose account is managed by her mother, tweeted: "Tonight we have no house, it's bombed & I got in rubble. I saw deaths and I almost died."

An earlier message posted on the account said: "Last message - under heavy bombardments now, can't be alive anymore. When we die, keep talking for 200,000 still inside. BYE."

Both messages were retweeted by JK Rowling.

Bana lives with her brothers, mother and father in Aleppo

In a conversation with the BBC last month, Fatemah said her daughter "wants the world to hear our voice."

"She says, 'Mum, why does nobody help us?'"

Bana shared a video of herself on Twitter, looking at the Harry Potter book, writing: "Hello my friend @jk_rowling, I started reading your books now, my heart is for you. Thank you. - Bana #Aleppo #StandWithAleppo"

JK Rowling wrote back: "Bana, this made me so happy! Lots of love to you and your brothers! #StandWithAleppo"

Fatemah says her daughter has already seen a lot.

"She saw her friend killed, and our house bombed. She saw her school bombed. So that affected her," said Fatemah.

Bana tweeted: "Good morning from #Aleppo. We are still alive. - Bana"

Aleppo has been split in two during the long conflict between rebel and government forces in Syria.

Daily life is difficult those still living there and Bana often posts messages about bombings and a lack of food.

Bana tweeted a picture of herself with her brothers, writing: "What are we doing? We are reading Harry Potters. - Bana #Aleppo"

Find us on Instagram at BBCNewsbeat and follow us on Snapchat, search for bbc_newsbeat