Report on The White Helmets Response in Latakia and Tartus – Sunday, March 9
اFor the fourth consecutive day, White Helmets teams have continued their humanitarian mission, responding to distress calls, extinguishing fires, providing medical aid, retrieving victims' bodies, and delivering life-saving services. These efforts come amid the ongoing crisis in Latakia and Tartus, with teams working under challenging conditions while adhering to humanitarian principles and ensuring safety protocols.
This report details the response activities on Sunday, March 9, and includes only operations carried out by The White Helmets
Retrieval of Victims' Bodies
On Sunday, March 9, White Helmets specialized teams retrieved 45 bodies:
- 39 bodies from Baniyas
- 3 bodies from Latakia
- 2 bodies from Jableh
- 1 body from Tartus
These numbers reflect only the bodies recovered and documented byThe White Helmets. The operation was coordinated with local authorities. Bodies were retrieved based on reports of their locations, properly documented, and then transferred to hospitals for forensic examination and identification before being handed over to their families. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent also retrieved additional bodies.
Civilian Evacuations
Upon request, White Helmets teams evacuated four families from rural Latakia to the city of Latakia.
Fire Response
Firefighting teams responded to fires in 8 homes and 9 commercial establishments in Jableh. The fires caused significant material damage, but the teams successfully extinguished them.
Medical Assistance
Emergency medical teams responded to over 25 cases, including:
- Monitoring and assisting the injured
- Transferring patients between hospitals
- Handling routine emergency cases
Essential Services – Water Supply to Hospitals and Bakeries
Amid widespread water shortages, White Helmets teams provided emergency water supplies, delivering an average of 100 barrels per day to the following facilities:
- National Hospital in Latakia
- University Hospital in Latakia
- Children’s and Maternity Hospital in Latakia
- National Hospital in Baniyas
- Shelter Center in Baniyas
- Reserve Bakery in Latakia
- Tishreen Bakery in Latakia
However, water supply operations in Latakia were suspended on the afternoon of Sunday, March 9, due to fuel shortages affecting water sources.
Additional Operations
White Helmets teams also carried out various emergency services, including:
- Clearing blocked roads
- Removing burned or abandoned vehicles to facilitate movement
- Restoring displaced concrete barriers in accordance with traffic regulations
Commitment to Humanitarian Duty
The White Helmets remains steadfast in its mission to provide life-saving assistance despite the dangers faced by its teams. To enhance response efforts, additional emergency, firefighting, and medical units were deployed on Sunday, March 9, reinforcing operations in Latakia and Tartus.
We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to saving lives and assisting communities with neutrality and impartiality. Our teams will continue working to support Syrians, responding to their suffering with hope and resilience.
Condolences and Calls for Accountability
We express our solidarity with civilians in conflict zones and offer our sympathies and condolences to the families of innocent victims. We also extend our condolences to the families of fallen members of the Internal Security Forces and the army who sacrificed their lives to protect Syria's unity and its people.
We emphasize the importance of upholding human rights and call for accountability for all crimes and violations committed against Syrians over the past 14 years, including killings, torture, displacement, and starvation, culminating in the recent atrocities in Latakia and Tartus, no matter the perpetrators.
Justice and Investigations
The White Helmets condemns the attacks and violations targeting civilians and security forces. We welcome the Syrian government’s decision to form an independent national committee to investigate recent events in the coastal region. We also stress the urgent need for transitional justice mechanisms, as they are essential for achieving lasting peace in Syria and ensuring justice for its people.
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