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Global Issues
The White Helmets of Syria
That has been described as the greatest humanitarian crisis
What
of the 21st century began in early 2011 with the outbreak
of civil war in Syria. For years, this conflict has raged, claiming
the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. In addition to the
horrible death toll, millions of Syria's citizens have been left
homeless or displaced. In fact, the conflict has led to the biggest
refugee crisis since the Second World War.
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Although it may seem that all hope is lost in that tiny part of the world, there is one
organization that has been fighting for years to save lives. While it is officially called the
Syria Civil Defence or SCD, its members are better known simply as the white helmets.
They are volunteers who rush to bombing sites to rescue survivors and give people hope.
They often show little regard for their own personal safety, and a great many have been
killed or injured attempting to save the lives of others.
The white helmets organization was established in rebel-controlled areas that were
under constant air attack by government forces. The strategy of the government had been
to target not only rebel fighters who opposed them but also the civilians living in the area.
Rockets and bombs often destroyed entire neighborhoods, leaving countless innocent
people dead and dying. To make matters worse, the government offered no official support
since it was the one causing the destruction. Things changed in 2014, however, when the
SCD was established. Its white-helmeted members began working tirelessly to pull people
from the rubble and give them urgent medical care. It is estimated that they have saved
close to 150,000 lives since then. In 2016, the SCD was recognized for its humanitarian
efforts when it was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
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