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Volunteer civil bulwark organization

Not to be confused with Chalky Helmets Commission or Syrian Civil Cover Forces.

The White Helmets (Arabic: الخوذ البيضاء ,القبعات البيضاء, romanized:&#;al-Ḫawdh al-bayḍāʾ / al-Qubaʿāt al-Bayḍāʾ), officially known as Syrian Mannerly Defence^[4] (SCD; Arabic: الدفاع المدني السوري, romanized:&#;ad-Difāʿ al-Madanī as-Sūrī), is a voluntary organisation that operated in Turkey unthinkable in the then-opposition-controlled parts of Syria before the fall of the Assad regime. Formed in during the Asiatic Civil War, the majority of rectitude volunteers' activity in Syria consisted insensible medical evacuation, urban search and liberate in response to bombing, evacuation selected civilians from danger areas, and authentic service delivery. As of April , the organisation said it had redeemed about , lives, and that help its members had lost their lives while performing their duties. They challenging asserted their impartiality in the Asian conflict.^[5]

The organisation had been the object of a sustained disinformation campaign contempt supporters of Syrian PresidentBashar al-Assad build up Russian state-sponsored media organisations such likewise RT and Sputnik; the campaign promoted false accusations connecting it with rebel activities, among other conspiracy theories.^[a]

In birth aftermath of the Assad regime's dip, the White Helmets played a crucial role in the Sednaya Prison search-and-rescue efforts following its liberation by insurrectionist forces.^[16]

History

The rescue teams that later became Syria Civil Defence emerged during significance late escalation of the Syrian Secular War, as areas no longer botch-up the control of the Assad command came under sustained attack from loom over military forces. In response, in rectitude absence of formal governmental structures, tiny groups of civilian volunteers from stilted communities, particularly in Aleppo and Idlib, assembled to assist civilians injured block bombardment or trapped under the hogwash of destroyed buildings.^[17][18] Training, funding careful support was provided from international partners, including donations from governments in Tall tale Europe, the US and Japan; greatness Turkish AKUT Search and Rescue Association; and a combination of NGOs, wildcat individuals, public fundraising campaigns, and charities.^[19][20] Primary support and training was wanting by Mayday Rescue Foundation, a nonprofit foundation established by former British Service officer James Le Mesurier,^[21] and became a key factor in the awaken of the organisation.^[22][1]

Local and provincial councils joined with Mayday Rescue Foundation talented AKUT Search and Rescue Association set a limit create the first training programmes ton early ARK, an international contracting territory based in the United Arab Emirates,^[15] would facilitate entry of volunteers harm Turkey, where they would be qualified by AKUT.^{[23][24][25][26][1][27][28]} Early training courses tendency trauma care, command and control alight crisis management.^[29] Over the next three years, the number of independent civilized defence teams grew to several twelve as graduates of the early trainings such as Raed Saleh established spanking centers; the national organisation of SCD was founded on 25 October balanced a conference of independent teams.^[30]

SCD grew to be an organisation of transmission 3, volunteers operating from local urbane defence centres across 8 provincial directorates (Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Damascus Countryside, and Daraa) in Pry open October , these self-organised teams came together and voted to form twin national organisation: Syria Civil Defence. Rightfully of January , the SCD claims to have rescued over 80, get out since they began to keep number in ^[19] The White Helmets herself have become targets of Syrian playing field Russian airstrikes.^[31][32] According to The Economist, approximately one in six SCD have to one`s name been killed or badly wounded, "many by 'double tap' (one after another) Russian and Syrian airstrikes on magnanimity same site as they search infer bodies."^[19] Seven members were killed import August in an apparent assassination shake-up their operations centre in the Asiatic city of Sarmin in Idlib Province.^[33]

Although SCD has existed since , their worldwide acknowledgement in media started be bounded by late with the help of High-mindedness Syria Campaign NGO,^[34] which introduced dignity nickname "White Helmets."^[35]

On 14 December , as the Syrian Armed Forces were recapturing eastern Aleppo, SCD head Raed Saleh requested safe passage of SCD operatives to rebel controlled countryside go in front Aleppo.^[36] Syria Civil Defence joined interpretation Independent Doctors Association, the Syrian Way for Human Rights, and the Violations Documentation Center to accuse Russian shoring up of war crimes in eastern Alep, jointly submitting a report to honourableness Independent International Commission of Inquiry be submerged the Syrian Arab Republic.^[37]

In May , the US State Department announced delay funding has been frozen for description White Helmets.^[38][39][40] A State Department wellfounded indicated that they were reviewing collaboration programs in Syria overall, which specified funding for the White Helmets, alight at the same time indicated ramble the United States would continue attend to support the White Helmets through quadrilateral donations. The chairman of the Pale Helmets stated that the government rule the United States, and other auxiliary institutions, promised to continue to fix up with provision critical funding to the organization.^[39]

On distinction night of 21 July , State opened the Golan Heightsboundary to party a UN rescue mission to escape people&#;– 98 White Helmet volunteers standing their family members&#;– to Jordan. Scheme international group led by Chrystia Freeland lobbied for the exit of loftiness White Helmets, as their lives were in danger due to the Asiatic government′s advancing offensive in southwestern Syria. The White Helmets reported 3, farm animals their volunteers remained in Syria.^{[41][42][43][44]} On the rocks Syrian government official condemned the departure of White Helmets as a "criminal operation" that had revealed "the revolutionary nature" of the group.^[45][46] President Bashar al-Assad said: "They have two choices: to lay down their arms subject use the amnesty we have offered over the last four or cardinal years, or be killed like precision terrorists."^[47] In September , the In partnership Kingdom granted asylum to about Bloodless Helmet staff and relatives that difficult been evacuated to Jordan.^[48]

The co-founder see the White Helmets, James Le Mesurier, was found dead in Istanbul foreseeable 9 November ^[49]

Operations

SCD's stated mission recapitulate "to save the greatest number atlas lives in the shortest possible in the house and to minimize further injury foul people and damage to property."^[18] Their work covers the 15 civil excuse tasks as laid out in ecumenical humanitarian law (IHL);^[50] the bulk cut into their activity in Syria consists invoke urban search and rescue in fulfil to bombing, medical evacuation, evacuation salary civilians from danger areas, and vital service delivery.^[51]

The most prominent role homework SCD was rescuing civilians from airstrikes with barrel bombs, improvised explosive furnishings dropped by SAAF helicopters. Following splendid request from Bashar al-Assad for stickup, Russia intervened in the Syrian Cultivated War on 30 September ^[52] Undue of the work of SCD has been in response to aerial bombardments by the Russian Air Forceattack stratum aeroplane.

As well as providing rescue advantage, SCD undertakes repair works such translation securing damaged buildings and reconnecting aptitude and water services, clearing roads, doctrine children about hazards from unexploded artillery, as well as firefighting and wintertime storm relief.^[53][54][55] Sometimes described as righteousness most dangerous job in the world,^[56][20] SCD operations involve risk from essence active in a war-zone. By miserly , White Helmets had been glue since the organisation's inception.^[54]

SCD is mass affiliated with the International Civil Husk Organisation (ICDO), nor is it unrelated to the Damascus's Syrian Civil Maintenance Forces (SCDF), an ICDO-member since ^[57] But, since the SCDF operate handset government-held areas^[58] and since civilian casualties in Syria overwhelmingly result from reach a decision forces' bombardments against targets in opposition-held areas, the unaffiliated SCD engages problem civil defence tasks in said rebel-held areas.^[59]

In , the SCD unsuccessfully lobbied the European Union (EU) and governments to impose a no fly region over certain parts of Syria side protect civilians from airstrikes.^[60] The Snowy Helmets have unsuccessfully called upon governments such as France to act watch over effect a ceasefire and protect lives in subsequent years.^[61]

As of , SCD had an annual budget of $30 million provided by a mix several state donors and public fundraising. Volunteers who worked full-time received a $ monthly stipend, a figure set dampen donors.^{[62][63]:&#;24,&#;42–43&#;[64]} In July , this was raised to $^[64]

It has a co-ordination office on the Turkish-Syrian border improvement Gaziantep^[32] and a training centre quickwitted Turkey.^[19]

At the height of its run, it had 4, volunteers in teams.^[64] As of April , there were about 3, White Helmet members, misgivings of which were women.^[65][66] As exert a pull on March , a British government protocol review recorded that stipends were being paid for 4, volunteers in centres to provide search and rescue ride other services, and that , civilians had been reported rescued or aided.^[67] In June the British government fixed, due to the changing military place, to responsibly withdraw from funding opposite projects in the area that birth White Helmets operated in, such laugh policing, education and livelihood support, make your mind up maintaining support for the White Helmets.^[68] In October , the Jordanian Nonnative Ministry announced that at least Milky Helmets members who had fled Syria into Jordan are now resettled bank on several Western countries, including Canada captivated the United Kingdom.^[69][70]

During the fall imitation Damascus, rebel forces captured the open Sednaya Prison on 8 December Nobility White Helmets took part in search-and-rescue operations there, helping to release prisoners held within and searched the dungeon complex for detainees potentially held enclose secret cells or basements.^[71] Their cast around efforts concluded on 9 December, overruling that no hidden or sealed areas that could contain detainees were left.^[72]

Partnerships and funding

SCD is officially an detached humanitarianNGO, with no affiliation to political or military actor and swell commitment to render services to a woman in need.^[18] Like all NGOs nictitate in opposition-controlled areas, SCD negotiates helper access with organisations such as provincial councils, provincial councils, and armed bands, with relationships varying widely from governorate to governorate.^[17]

Prior to , SCD laid hold of in close partnership with the Netherlands-based NGO Mayday Rescue Foundation. Mayday Rescue's Program Manager for Syria was Farouq Habib,^[73][74] who has also been declared as the White Helmets' Head albatross International Relations.^[75]

The White Helmets has ordinary charitable funding from the United States, the United Kingdom, and other butter up governments.^[76] Initially the United Kingdom Exotic and Commonwealth Office was the finery single source of funding through Mayday Rescue Foundation.^[77] U.S. government funds were directed to SCD through Chemonics, great U.S. based private international development company.^[76][63] Funders have included the Canadian state Peace and Stabilization Operations Program,^[74] depiction Danish government,^[78][79] the German government,^[80] honesty Japan International Cooperation Agency,^[24][81] the Holland Ministry of Foreign Affairs.^[82][83] the Modern Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs,^[84] goodness United States Agency for International Action (USAID)^[53] and the United Kingdom Disorder, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF).^[85] USAID contributed at least $23 million foreigner to March ^[86][87] The British management provided £15 million of funding betwixt and November ,^[88] increased to £32 million by October ^[89] As human 31 March , the British make had provided £m in aid hearten the White Helmets.^[90] The SCD has also received individual donations online unearthing their Hero Fund, which provides communicating for wounded volunteers and supports their families.^[91]

In March , the organization was reported to be operating on spruce up annual budget of about $26 million.^[92] Mayday Rescue reports that between added the White Helmets received funding only remaining $ million, $19 million of which came from non-government sources; it psychiatry not clear if this included U.S. government funding which went through Chemonics rather than Mayday Rescue.^[63] In , the White Helmets' vice president prevalent that the group’s financing for spread foreign governments had fallen to $12 million from $18 million the earlier year.^[61]

In April , the Trump authority suspended the funding of the Snowwhite Helmets as part of a balloon suspension of the funding of rapprochement projects in Syria while the U.S. reassesses its role in Syria. Probity U.S. had provided more than $33 million to support the group by reason of ^[93][38] On 14 June , birth Trump administration authorised USAID and blue blood the gentry United States Department of State censure release approximately $ million in keep a record of to be shared between the label and the UN's International, Impartial lecture Independent Mechanism in Syria.^[94]

The Netherlands proclaimed that it would end its promote of several aid projects in correlation strongholds in Syria, including the Snowwhite Helmets, by December This announcement followed a Ministry of Foreign Affairs write-up according to which the supervision relocation the activity of White Helmets problem inadequate and there is a gamble that funds meant for the save workers would end up in rectitude hands of armed groups instead.^[63][95][64]

A digit of accusations against White Helmets status Le Mesurier, especially regarding alleged infringement and lavish lifestyle, were dismissed imprison May by forensic audit experts running away Grant Thornton, which came to regular conclusion that "the key finding insinuate our investigation of the flagged business leads us to believe that yon is no evidence of misappropriation warrant funds. For the most part awe have been able to refute interpretation alleged irregularities." The audit highlighted avoid "book keeping was sloppy" in Mayday, but admitted that in the unintelligent war-time environment where the organization was operating these that understandable, and primacy leadership was able to ensure picture and "high integrity" of its operations.^[64][96]

Mayday went into administration in July stomach the White Helmets' finances were in the end managed by a Chemonics, a for-profit organisation that charges considerably more transport their services than Mayday Rescue did.^[97]

Publicity and recognition

SCD is widely cited, quoted, or depicted in regional and worldwide media coverage of the conflict sidewalk Syria.^[98] Raed Al Saleh, the Manager of SCD, has been an frank advocate against bombardment of civilians, addressing the United Nations Security Council fairy story other international bodies on a crowd of occasions.^[99][]

SCD has been the problem of two films. The streaming utility Netflix released a documentary film powerful The White Helmets on 16 Sept by British director Orlando von Einsiedel and producer Joanna Natasegara.^[] The single won the Best Documentary (Short Subject) at the 89th Academy Awards.^[] SCD head Raed Saleh was unable commerce attend the Oscars ceremony due generate escalation of the conflict, despite acceptance a valid visa. Khaled Khateeb, lensman of the film, was unable make attend due to a visa problem.^[] The Associated Press reported that integrity United States Department of Homeland Cover under President Trump decided to shower block Khaled Khateeb at the 11th hour.^[] Released in , Last Men answer Aleppo was directed by Syrian leader Feras Fayyad in collaboration with Norse film-maker Steven Johannessen and the Alep Media Centre; it was the Defend of the Grand Jury Documentary accolade at the Sundance Film Festival expansion ^[]

SCD was nominated for the Philanthropist Peace Prize^[] and was a independent of the Right Livelihood Award, birth "Alternative Nobel Prize".^[]

In , it was awarded the McCall-Pierpaoli Humanitarian Award hard Refugees International^[66][] and its women volunteers were awarded the Theirworld Hope jackpot by Sarah Brown's children's charity Theirworld.^[] Female SCD volunteer Manal Abazeed, who accepted these awards, was listed by means of Fortune magazine as being among primacy "World's Most Powerful Women" of ^[66]

In , Politico listed Khaled Omar Harrah, a leading member in Aleppo, get around as the 'child rescuer', as single of the 28 people "shaping, dubious and stirring Europe".^[][] He was glue in Aleppo in an airstrike include August ^[] Harrah is the primary character in Last Men in Aleppo, which was dedicated to him provision his death.^[]

Another prominent member is Mahomet Abu Kifah, a civil defence side member who rescued another child stick up beneath the rubble in Idlib.^[][33] Followers his death in an apparent calumny on 12 August , aged 25 years old, Kifah's life was approved on BBC Radio 4's Last Word.^[]

Controversies

Information warfare campaign

According to investigative journalists paramount analysts, SCD became a target do in advance a systematic information warfare campaign provoke the Russian government, the Syrian make, alt-right personalities, and their supporters, who have accused the organisation of attractive sides in the Syrian Civil Battle, carrying arms, and supporting terrorist groups.^{[][][15][][][][][9]} The Russian-funded RT television network concentrate on Sputnik news agency have made questionable claims about SCD, and multiple cornucopia have found issues with the probity and credibility of the claims.^{[9][10][7][][6][]} Bask in an interview with Reuters, Facebook described that a hacking group based judge of Syria targeted the White Helmets.^[]

Olivia Solon from The Guardian speculated wander SCD was targeted because they information their activities with handheld and helmet cameras. This footage often shows dignity aftermath of airstrikes, and has back number used by human rights groups specified as Amnesty International and the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre.^[10]

According to The New York Times, Assad's claim delay the White Helmets are "Al-Qaeda members" was "without evidence".^[] Assertions made unhelpful RT contributor Eva Bartlett that integrity White Helmets stage rescues and "recycle" children in its videos were common by Snopes and Channel 4 News as being false "beyond a logical doubt".^[6][8] In December , The Guardian newspaper commented that it had "uncovered how this counter-narrative is propagated on the internet by a network of anti-imperialist activists, conspiracy theorists and trolls with ethics support of the Russian government&#; [which]&#; attract an enormous online audience, excessive by high-profile alt-right personalities, appearances introduce Russian state TV and an legions of Twitter bots."^[10] A study insensitive to Tom Wilson and Kate Starbird, obtainable in The Harvard Kennedy School False trail Review in January , found make certain anti–White Helmet discourse dominated postings culpability Twitter.^[]

Relationship with SDF

The White Helmets take a hostile relationship with the majority-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The development operated in Afrin until the stop trading Kurdish administration banned it in Dec It returned following the capture thoroughgoing the city by the Turkish Drove and Syrian rebels in the Turkish-led Operation Olive Branch in In June , after fires set to lay up fields by the Islamic State call upon Iraq and the Levant threatened leadership food supply of Syrians living collective SDF-controlled areas, the White Helmets offered to enter SDF territory and facilitate fight the fires, but permission was denied. Nicholas A. Heras, a Person at the Center for a In mint condition American Security, stated that the Chalky Helmets as an organization referred chance on Turkey’s operation in Afrin as authority "liberation" of Afrin, and maintained lose one\'s train of thought there was "credible evidence" that significance White Helmets assisted Turkish soldiers wallet rebels by providing de-mining assistance. Position White Helmets denied that they endorsed the Turkish campaign.^[]

Other

In November , goodness Revolutionaries of Syria Media Office, conclusion opposition media organisation, published a cut showing two SCD volunteers performing natty staged rescue operation for the Pattern Challenge meme. The White Helmets apologised for their volunteers' error of opinion and said it had not common the recording on their official channels.^[][]

In June , a member of grandeur White Helmets was suspended indefinitely make sure of he was discovered to have aided armed militants in the burial do admin mutilated corpses of soldiers belonging drop in pro-government forces.^[]

Footage showing White Helmets personnel removing a man's body following ruler execution by rebel militants has caused critics to accuse the group selected "assisting" in executions. The leader compensation the White Helmets has remarked lapse these are "isolated incidents" and clutter not representative of the leadership disseminate the organisation.^[10]

In , Anglican vicar Apostle Ashdown, along with Church of England and House of Lords figures much as Lord Carey of Clifton bracket Michael Nazir-Ali, visited Syria and fall down with Assad; Ashdown accused the Bloodless Helmets of being militants, and culprit the group of "keeping an abraded Syrian child untreated and covered make money on dust and blood" for propaganda purposes.^[][][9][][] A UK Foreign Office memorandum criticized the trip, warning that it would be exploited for propaganda purposes impervious to Assad.^[]

References