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White Helmets (Syrian civil war)

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Not to be confused with White Helmets Commission.
Syrian Civil Defense
"White Helmets"
AbbreviationSCD
Formation2013; 11 years ago (2013)
TypeNonprofit
PurposeCivil defense
Region served
rebel-controlled Syria
Head
Raed Saleh
Budget
$30 million
Volunteers
2,850 (with monthly stipend)
Websitesyriacivildefense.org

Syria Civil Defense (SCD; Arabic: الدفاع المدني السوري), also known as the White Helmets, is a volunteer civil defense organization that operates in rebel-controlled Syria during the Syrian Civil War. Mayday Rescue is a foundation registered in the Netherlands that supports SCD, primarily financed by western governments.

History

Early training of volunteers was initiated in early 2013 by British security consultant James Le Mesurier,[1][2] primarily as a response to indiscriminate bombardment of civilian communities in rebel-held areas by the Syrian Arab Air Force.[3][4] Training and courses were provided by the Turkish AKUT Search and Rescue Association and the consultancy Analysis, Research and Knowledge (ARK);[5][6] courses include trauma care, command and control and crisis management.[7] SCD was formally founded in its current form on 25 October 2014.[8]

In September 2014, the SCD delegation to the United Nations General Assembly argued that United States airstrikes should target Syrian government targets as well as ISIS and Al-Qaeda-linked groups.[9]

Since then, it has grown to a organization of over 2,850 volunteers operating from 114 local civil defense centers across 8 provincial directorates (Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Damascus Countryside, and Daraa). In October 2014, these self-organised teams came together and voted to form one national organisation: Syria Civil Defense. As of October 2016, the SCD has rescued over 60,000 people, since they began to keep count in 2014, from the effects of the civil war.[10] According to The Economist, approximately one in six SCD have been killed or badly wounded, "many by “double-tap” Russian and Syrian airstrikes on the same site as they search for bodies."[10] The SCD was nominated for the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize.

Operations

SCD clearing rubble following an attack in Idlib in November 2014, using a USAID supplied bucket loader

SCD's mission is "to save the greatest number of lives in the shortest possible time and to minimize further injury to people and damage to property."[11] Their work covers the 15 civil defense tasks as laid out in international humanitarian law (IHL);[12] the bulk of their activity in Syria consists of urban search and rescue in response to bombing, medical evacuation, evacuation of civilians from danger areas, and essential service delivery.[13]

The most prominent role of SCD was rescuing civilians from strikes with barrel bombs, improvised explosive devices dropped from by SAAF helicopters. Following the intervention of Russia in Syria on September 30, 2015, much of the work of SCD has been responding to attacks by Russian Air Force attack aircraft.

As well as providing rescue services, SCD undertakes repair works such as securing damaged buildings and reconnecting electrical services, as well as firefighting and winter storm relief.[14][15]

Sometimes described as the most dangerous job in the world,[16] SCD operations involve risk from a wide variety of war-zone threats. Approximately 130 White Helmets have been killed since the organization's inception.[15]

As of 2015, SCD had an annual budget of $30 million. Volunteers who work full time receive a $150 monthly stipend.[17]

Political affiliation and funding

SCD was started by James Le Mesurier, a former British Army officer and private security consultant, in early 2013,[1][2] while working as Director of the Syria Civil Defence support programme at the UAE consultancy Analysis, Research and Knowledge (ARK).[6][18][19] SCD claims to be a neutral and impartial humanitarian NGO, with no official affiliation to any political or military actor and a commitment to render services to any in need regardless of sect or political affiliation.[11] Like all NGOs operating in opposition-controlled areas, SCD negotiates humanitarian access with organizations such as local councils, provincial councils, and armed groups, with relationships varying widely from governorate to governorate.[3]

In 2014, James Le Mesurier founded Mayday Rescue as a registered foundation in the Netherlands, through which international funding is now directed.[1][20] Mayday Rescue has offices in Amsterdam, Dubai, Jordan and Turkey.[21] James Le Mesurier was awarded an OBE by the British government in June 2016 for "services to Syria Civil Defence and the protection of civilians in Syria".[8][22]

SCD is not affiliated to the International Civil Defence Organisation, nor is it connected to the Syrian Civil Defence Forces which have been a member of the ICDO since 1972.[23][24]

Funding

SCD is supported by the aid agencies of a number of external donor governments. Initially the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office was the largest single source of funding through the newly constructed aid group, Mayday Rescue, then based in Istanbul though headquartered in the Netherlands.[25]

Funders now include the Danish government, the German government,[21] the Japan International Cooperation Agency,[20] United States Agency for International Development (USAID),[26] the United Kingdom Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF),[27] and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[28] USAID now appears to be the largest donor, having contributed at least $23 million since 2013.[29][30] The British government had provided £15 million of funding between 2012 and November 2015.[31]

As of 2016, SCD state they are also partly funded through Chemonics, a U.S. based private international development company.[32]

The SCD has also received individual donations online to their Hero Fund, which provides treatment for wounded volunteers and supports their families.[33]

Media and advocacy

SCD is widely cited, quoted, or depicted in regional and international media coverage of the conflict in Syria.[34] As first responders, White Helmets are often able to provide media sources with more up-to-date information on attacks on civilian targets than are other sources.[citation needed] SCD has been the focus of several pieces by outlets such as Medium Men's Journal, CNN, The Guardian, and others.[3][16][35][36][37] Raed Al Saleh, the Director of SCD, has been an outspoken advocate against bombardment of civilians, addressing the United Nations Security Council and other international bodies on a number of occasions.[38][39]

A notable member in Aleppo, Khaled Omar Harrah, known as the the 'child rescuer', was killed there in an airstrike in August 2016.[40]

The streaming service Netflix released a documentary named 'The White Helmets' on September 16, 2016.[41]

Criticism

Both Russia and Syria accuse the organization of taking sides in the civil war, and on the ground being close to the Sunni Islamist militia Al-Nusra.[42]

In April 2016, on his way to receive the 2016 Humanitarian Award from the Washington DC-based group, InterAction, Dulles Airport officials denied entry to Raed Saleh, the leader of the Syria Civil Defense. U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not publicly disclose why the agency prevented Saleh from entering the county.[43][44]

References

  1. ^ a b c "James Le Mesurier". Mayday Rescue. 26 August 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  2. ^ a b Maria Jan, "Q&A: Syria's White Helmets" Al Jazeera, August 21, 2015
  3. ^ a b c Aikins, Matthieu. "Whoever Saves a Life — Matter". Medium. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  4. ^ "Volunteers to Save Lives | SCD". syriacivildefense.org. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
  5. ^ Emily Hough (December 2014). "Meeting Syria's volunteer rescuers". Crisis Response Journal. 10 (2). Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  6. ^ a b "Train Urban Search and Rescue Teams". Analysis, Research and Knowledge. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  7. ^ Sloane Speakman (13 May 2015). "Syrian Civil Defense: A Framework for Demobilization and Reconstruction in Post-Conflict Syria". Georgetown Security Studies Review. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  8. ^ a b Jonathan Gornall (29 September 2016). "Newsmaker: The White Helmets". The National. Abu Dhabi. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  9. ^ Somini Sengupta (23 September 2014). "While Syrian Volunteers Seek Support, Crisis Worsens at Home". New York Times. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  10. ^ a b "The rise of Syria's White Helmets". The Economist. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  11. ^ a b "Volunteers to Save Lives | SCD". www.syriacivildefense.org. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  12. ^ "Civil defence - ICRC". www.icrc.org. 2010-10-29. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  13. ^ Dagher, Sam (May 1, 2016). "White Helmets Are White Knights for Desperate Syrians". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  14. ^ "Syria". USAID. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  15. ^ a b Mehrnoush Pourziaiee (26 August 2016). "White Helmets, Omran and fading hope in Syria". BBC Persian. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  16. ^ a b "The Most Dangerous Job in the World: Syria's Elite Rescue Force". mensjournal.com. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  17. ^ Janine di Giovanni (21 January 2016). "Syria's White Helmets Save Civilians, Soldiers and Rebels Alike". Newsweek. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  18. ^ "Author: James Le Mesurier". Crisis Response Journal. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  19. ^ "Disclosure of Grant and Contribution Awards Over 5,000: DFAIT - Foreign Affairs: Analysis Research and Knowledge (ARK) F.Z.C." Global Affairs Canada. 5 January 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  20. ^ a b "Donors". Mayday Rescue. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  21. ^ a b "RFQ-160816 Search and Rescue Equipment" (zip/Word). Mayday Rescue. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  22. ^ "Order of the British Empire - James Gustaf Edward LE MESURIER". The London Gazette. 11 June 2016. Notice ID: 2553067. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  23. ^ http://www.icdo.org/en/
  24. ^ http://mod.gov.sy/index.php?node=554&cat=3251
  25. ^ Richard Spencer (27 September 2015). "As the West drops demand for Assad to go, meet the group the UK funds to support his victims". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  26. ^ "Syria | Political Transition Initiatives | U.S. Agency for International Development". www.usaid.gov. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  27. ^ "2010 to 2015 government policy: peace and stability in the Middle East and North Africa - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  28. ^ Zaken, Ministerie van Buitenlandse. "Dutch support for Syrian rescue workers". www.government.nl. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  29. ^ Mark C. Toner (27 April 2016). "Daily Press Briefing - April 27, 2016". United States Department of State. Retrieved 22 September 2016. we provide, through USAID, about $23 million in assistance to them
  30. ^ "U.S. Denies Entry To Syrian Aid Worker Who Came To Receive Humanitarian Award" ThinkProgress, April 20, 2016
  31. ^ "Providing non-humanitarian assistance in Syria". Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  32. ^ "Our Partners". Syrian Civil Defense. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  33. ^ "They've saved over 60,000 lives. Now they need you and me". Retrieved 2016-09-14.
  34. ^ "Google". www.google.com.tr. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  35. ^ "Incredible rescue of boy from Syrian rubble - CNN Video". CNN. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  36. ^ Patrick Wintour (2016-01-15). "Russia accused of deliberately targeting civilians in Syria". The Guardian. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  37. ^ "'White Helmets' bring civilian aid to Syria's conflict". CNN. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  38. ^ "Syrian rescue organization appeals to UN Security Council over barrel bombs". Associated Press. The Guardian. 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  39. ^ Wintour, Patrick; Black, Ian (2016-02-04). "David Cameron calls for billions more in international aid for Syrian refugees". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  40. ^ Tahhan, Zena (August 19, 2016). "White Helmet: We called Khaled the 'child rescuer'". Al Jazeera. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  41. ^ "Netflix to Unveil Four Original Documentaries at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival". Netflix Media Center. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
  42. ^ "High praise for Syria's 'White Helmets' – but who are they?". France 24. 2016-09-16. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  43. ^ "Raed Saleh, head of Syrian Civil Defense, denied entry at U.S. border". Newsweek. 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  44. ^ Somini Sengupta, Anne Barnard (20 April 2016). "Leader of Syria Rescue Group, Arriving in U.S. for Award, Is Refused Entry". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
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