Search & Rescue and Firefighting Program

This program is dedicated to carrying out all activities and measures that safeguard civilians, as well as public and private property, from the risks posed by natural and man-made disasters, including fires, attacks, aerial and ground bombardments, and various accidents. It also provides relief to those affected in times of peace, war, and emergencies. This is an extraordinary task, particularly given the ongoing war in Syria, where White Helmets teams have saved over 128,000 lives.

The Syrian regime began its military attacks and bombing campaigns on areas outside its control at the end of 2011. The Russian Air Force joined these attacks in September 2015, with artillery and missile strikes systematically targeting residential neighborhoods and vital facilities. Aircraft and helicopters dropped shells, cluster bombs, chemical weapons, barrel bombs, and mines on schools, hospitals, and residential homes in a systematic campaign against civilians and the infrastructure serving them.

The damage caused by these air and ground strikes in densely populated areas has been immense. Residents live and work in single and multi-story concrete buildings, which collapse when targeted, leaving the occupants buried under the rubble.

When an airstrike occurs, White Helmets volunteers rush to the site to rescue civilians. The moments following a strike are critical for saving lives, yet the recovery of bodies can take several days, as teams work continuously until every person trapped beneath the rubble is rescued.

The primary goal of the program is to ensure the safety of civilians and their property by achieving the following objectives:

• Maintain continuous and full preparedness to deliver an effective, high-quality response that saves lives and protects property (Preparedness, Readiness, and Response).
• Enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of emergency responses through the continuous acquisition of necessary equipment.
• Strengthen team capabilities through ongoing training programs.
• Boost readiness levels at operational centers by conducting regular drills.
• Improve the physical fitness of operational teams through consistent sports programs and regular physical fitness evaluations.
• Monitor and evaluate performance by developing tools for tracking and measuring effectiveness.
• Increase public awareness and community participation to enhance cooperation during disasters and emergencies, thereby reducing their impact.
• Ensure rapid response by implementing appropriate plans, including advanced positioning and effective support mechanisms.
• Strengthen coordination and collaboration with partners, local authorities, and other institutions to ensure the optimal use of resources.

• Responding to attacks and bombings to save lives.
• Extinguishing fires of all types.
• Addressing disasters and emergencies.
• Managing traffic accident responses.
• Performing water rescues and recovering drowning victims from bodies of water or wells.
• Evacuating civilians from hazardous areas.
• Rescuing individuals from other incidents, such as falls from heights or those trapped in wells and on slopes.
• Conducting diverse community awareness activities.
• Providing advanced training to the local community to enhance their capabilities, promote participation, and improve disaster response.