Damnascus, Oct. 25 (SANA) Emergency and Disaster Management Minister Raed Al-Saleh reaffirmed his commitment to the humanitarian mission of the Syrian Civil Defense, known as the White Helmets, on Sunday, marking the 12th anniversary of the signing of its founding charter.
In a post on the social media platform X, Al-Saleh paid tribute to colleagues who lost their lives while carrying out humanitarian work, describing them as an integral part of the organization’s journey and guardians of its founding values of sacrifice, dedication to saving lives and respect for human dignity. He said their legacy would continue to guide the organization’s work.
According to a statement published by the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management on its Telegram channel, 70 leaders of volunteer teams operating across Syria signed the Syrian Civil Defense’s founding charter on Oct. 25, 2014.
The agreement followed efforts that began in late 2012 to bring the teams together under one organization and a shared vision based on humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law, the ministry said.
The Syrian Civil Defense evolved from volunteer teams working under exceptional conditions into an integrated institution that responds to disasters and emergencies and has saved tens of thousands of lives. It was later incorporated into the ministry’s organizational structure.
Emerging from volunteer initiatives during the early years of the Syrian uprising, the Syrian Civil Defense has become one of the country’s prominent national experiences in emergency response and civilian protection.
kA/RK
