FREQUWNTLY ASKED QUESTION

The Syria Civil Defencse, also known as the White Helmets, was officially established in 2014 in the midst of attacks and bombardment on cities and towns across Syria. It began with small local volunteer rescue groups who later organized under one unified organization to provide emergency response and humanitarian services in conflict zones. To learn more, press here.

The name comes from the distinctive white helmets worn by the volunteers during rescue operations. The helmets are a symbol of their mission to save lives, particularly in areas affected by airstrikes and bombings.

Since the Syrian war began in 2011, various regions have experienced intense attacks, aerial bombardment, and destruction of critical infrastructure. The White Helmets have focused their efforts on these hard-hit areas, focusing their work in all areas of Syria they are able to access. As the war has developed, millions of Syrians have been forcibly displaced from their homes to other parts of Syria. This includes our volunteers., , but their Our operations are now concentrated primarily in northwest Syria, including the Idlib region and parts of Aleppo. This area continues to experience significant bombardment and humanitarian crises. The region is also home to a large population of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have fled from other parts of Syria. Many civilians live in makeshift camps under dire conditions, with limited access to healthcare, clean water, and other essential services. The White Helmets are crucial in providing rescue services, emergency medical care, and community support in this region.
The White Helmets continue to serve all areas they can reach and we regularly offer support across front lines, particularly firefighting during the summer. summer. However, it is not safe for us to provide services in certain areas due to direct targeting. Though the scale of operations in other parts of Syria has decreased due to access restrictions, they remain committed to saving lives wherever possible, particularly in communities under siege or targeted by airstrikes.

The White Helmets receive funding from a variety of international governments and non-governmental organizations. This support helps them maintain equipment, provide medical supplies, and train volunteers.

The White Helmets adhere to the core humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence. They are an independent, neutral humanitarian organization. Their mission is focused on saving lives and providing services to civilians affected by the ongoing war in Syria, regardless of their political, religious, or ethnic backgrounds, while also demanding justice and accountability for perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The White Helmets' work supporting communities under attack has made them targets by Russian forces and the Syrian regime, who have bombed White Helmets centers dozens of times and targeted their teams while they were carrying out their humanitarian duty of rescuing civilians. This gave rise to what became known as "double-tap strikes," where the same location is targeted with a second air strike shortly after the first one, aimed at killing rescuers and medics rushing to the site. This type of strike is a brutal tactic designed to kill both civilians and rescuers.
This method involves launching an airstrike on a location, then bombing the same site again after a few minutes to cause as many casualties as possible, as the site is typically a gathering point for civilians and rescue teams working to save the wounded and injured.
The use of these strikes wasn’t limited to one area but extended to most of the regions that were under opposition control, including Eastern Ghouta in the Damascus countryside, Daraa province, the northern countryside of Homs, Idlib province, and the eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo.
Since the beginning of its operations, the Syria Civil Defense has lost 304 volunteers, most of whom were victims of double-tap strikes while rescuing civilians. The continued systematic crimes by the regime, Russia, and their allies in targeting and destroying the Syria Civil Defense’s volunteers and centers aim to deprive civilians of their services, force them to flee their towns and villages, and attempt to eliminate witnesses to the targeting of civilians with various types of bombardments.

There are two key reasons:
Firstly, First reason:
White Helmets volunteers are first responders, and with cameras mounted on their helmets, they document all crimes and violations as they respond to airstrikes, artillery shelling, rocket attacks, and chemical assaults. These recordings are shared with international organizations, which hold the Syrian regime and Russia accountable for their actions.
Secondly, Second reason:
The White Helmets are made up of volunteers from all segments of Syrian society, united by their commitment to humanitarian work and national identity. Unlike the Syrian regime, which seeks to divide society along non-national and sectarian lines, the White Helmets have built a civic institution that represents all Syrians. They stand as a symbol of unity and provide a national alternative, free from the regime's control and ideology.
This has made the White Helmets a threat to the regime’s efforts to dominate and fragment Syrian society. The organization has proven to be a highly capable and effective alternative to the regime’s institutions, especially during the recent earthquake when their professional response earned global recognition. This success alarmed the regime and Russia, leading to a sustained media and physical assault on the White Helmets and their volunteers, aiming to tarnish their image and undermine their credibility.

At this time, recruitment is limited to Syrians who live in areas where the White Helmets operate. However, international support can be provided through donations, advocacy, or raising awareness about our mission.

You can donate to the White Helmets through the official website here, where they have a dedicated donation page. Contributions help fund rescue operations, medical care, and humanitarian services.