Since we started our rescue work, 288 of our volunteers have lost their lives in the line of duty, most of them were killed in double-tap strikes

We’re deeply concerned by today’s media stories, which focus on false claims made against a former White Helmet volunteer recently resettled in Germany. Khalid Al-Saleh worked with 350 fellow volunteers in southern Syria before the regime took control of the area. He is a humanitarian who continues to live by our unshakeable principles of “Humanity, Solidarity, Impartiality” as outlined under international humanitarian law.

Khalid’s resettlement has gone through a lengthy process and the German government has clearly found that all claims against Khalid are unfounded. For the media to parrot Russian disinformation claims will only add to the pressures he faces being forced to leave his home and country because of his lifesaving work.

The White Helmets are systematically targeted by the Syrian regime and so when it was possible for some of our volunteers to be evacuated from southern Syria in 2018 during the regime’s military offensive, 377 volunteers fled through Jordan to Europe and Canada. Since we started our rescue work, 288 of our volunteers have lost their lives in the line of duty, most of them were killed in double-tap strikes where the Syrian regime and Russian warplanes return to the site of a bombing to target rescue workers.