Syria’s civil defense held its third annual conference with attendance of a number of Syrian Coalition members, representatives of the Friends of the Syrian people, and local humanitarian groups.
The conference began with an offer of a tribute to the fallen rescue workers that was followed by a presentation of the most important achievements of the civil defense during 2016. At least 162 rescue workers have so far lost their lives while performing their humanitarian duty in search and rescue operations among the rubble of buildings destroyed by the Assad regime and Russian forces.
Members of the civil defense, also known as the White Helmets, which has been nominated for the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize, are dedicated to rescuing people from the rubble of bombed houses, fighting fires and offering first aid for victims of the systematic bombardment by regime forces and their allies, often at great personal risk.
The aid group operating in northern Syria has so far managed to save the lives of thousands of civilians from under the rubble of bombed houses in the liberated areas since it was established in 2013.
The civil defense corps, a non-partisan group of volunteers who does not have any political affiliations, dedicates its work to save as many lives as possible.
Representatives of the friends of the Syrian people reaffirmed support for the civil defense as the conference concluded by the civil defense offering words of thanks to the guests. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
