When another disaster strikes Syria, which has been ravaged by war, there are ‘White Helmets’, ordinary citizens wearing their trademark white helmets to rescue people.
On the 6th, when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Turkey and rebel-held northwestern Syria, White Helmets rushed to respond to the earthquake damage. The disaster caused the collapse of thousands of buildings and killed more than 11,000 people in both countries.
According to ABC News on the 8th (local time), White Helmets, a private rescue service in rebel areas, has about 3,000 volunteers from all walks of life. People’s occupations are as varied as bakers, tailors, pharmacists, firefighters, and technicians. Working without pay and unarmed, they are said to risk their lives to help those in need across Syria.
The White Helmets are an organization formed by volunteers at the beginning of the Syrian Civil War. Although they describe themselves as ‘bipartisan’, they operate only in Syrian rebel-held areas. When the Syrian regime and its allies bombed civilians in rebel-held areas, White Helmets rescued people and helped rebuild homes. The group said it had saved more than 125,000 people from both sides.
Initially, the volunteers said they rescued victims “with their bare hands” and lacked both experience and equipment. In 2013, some volunteers went to Turkey for the first time to receive professional training. Thanks to years of training, White Helmets was able to gain expertise, establish specialized teams, and build facilities.
The group’s motto comes from an oft-quoted verse from the Koran: ‘To save one life is to save all mankind’. They received the Right Livelihood Award, which is said to be similar to the 2016 Nobel Prize, and were nominated several times for the Nobel Peace Prize.
However, as many volunteers were sacrificed as they traveled through dangerous areas. At least 293 people are believed to have lost their lives while saving people.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.