This video shot by a Iraqi social media influencer and addressed to US President Joe Biden is a plea for help amid the deteriorating situation in the country and it has moved US officials at the State Department.

The teen, identified by local media as 17-year-old Ali Adil, at first proffers a greeting in Arabic but part of the video is in English. He addresses President Biden directly asking him for help as gunshot is heard ringing out in the background.

He says in Arabic that he will “commit suicide and jump from the building.” He then adds: “If you don’t help me, I will jump, I’m not joking with you, I’m on the rooftop, if you don’t help me I will die, can you hear the fire in the background? This is normal in Iraq.”

He adds: “Please invite me Mr Biden, there are fires in hospitals, the weather in Iraq is hot, there’s nothing. Biden, look for me. If you don’t help me, I will jump to the street, please invite me because I’m sad and angry.”

In English, the teen then appears to be threatening suicide, saying: “Biden, if you don’t help me, I will jump. I will enter Hell. I not joking with you (sic).”

Local media outlet the Middle East Monitor reported that Iraqi doctors have said they are suffering greatly from the coronavirus pandemic as infection rates skyrocket and hospitals that have been neglected, with few beds and little equipment, struggle.

They also say that the country is suffering from widespread unemployment and failing public services due to corruption and security issues.

Now the US State Department has responded to Ali’s moving video.

According to local media outlet The National, a top US diplomat in the Middle East, Joey Hood, who is the acting assistant secretary at the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, responded to him on social media in a video, telling him to “not jump from the rooftop”.

He added: “Please Allawi, we in America love you, do not jump, I’m not Joe Biden, but Joey Hood, and life is precious.”

He also said: “Iraq needs you, your voice is important for Iraq, I cannot bring you to the US but if I ever visit Iraq I’ll make sure to see you.”

As a result of the State Department official’s response, Ali spoke to The National, saying that he was overwhelmed, adding: “I did not anticipate that my video would reach such high levels and I hope that my message, the message of the people, has been delivered.

“Our message needs to be delivered to the world so they see our struggles.

“I hope that Iraqis one day live in luxury. We have endured a lot from wars to conflict.”

He added: “We deserve to live in peace.”

And he also said that he met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi in Baghdad: “The prime minister gave me his hat and said, ‘please don’t jump or lose hope.”

The PM also reportedly said that Ali was free “to speak his mind.”