A changing role for Syria's White Helmets

Syria's White Helmets, officially known as Syrian Civil Defence, are shifting their function from saving lives of people buried under the ruins of war to burying the deceased from COVID-19.  

The organisation became well-known after a film documentary recorded their work during the civil war. White helmets helped save thousands of lives in war-torn areas. The volunteers are now focusing on burying the victims of the pandemic. In Idlib, one of the last opposition's strongholds, White Helmets handle bodies that are possibly still contagious from the hospital to their final resting place.

Idlib is located in North-west Syria and is home to 2.7 million civilians displaced from other parts of the country. Idlib has registered more than 20,000 infections and nearly 400 deaths, although officials believe these figures are an underestimation.

"This work is extremely difficult, but we have no choice but to continue. People need us,” said Ahmed Al Masry.

The 32-year-old joined the White Helmets in 2015. Speaking to the newspaper The National, he says that the job is difficult regardless of weather the threat is from bombs or virus.    

"Whether it's the virus or the bombs, it's a hard job. And of course, it is difficult for my family too. They worry a lot about me. My relatives often ask me why I don't quit,” he said.

Many of the volunteers in the White Helmets suffer from haunting memories. 

"Every memory is an agony. But some are worse than others. I have images in my head of dead children, buried under the rubble. Two years ago, I was called to the scene of an airstrike where there were no survivors. It turned out it was the home of relatives,” he said.

Despite a fragile ceasefire negotiated in March 2020, the Syrian government and oppositions occasionally still engage militarily with each other. The coronavirus is viewed as a war inside a war. Syria's only hope to fight the pandemic is the WHO's Covax scheme– a global scheme to vaccinate people in poor and middle-income countries around the world.

Source: commonspace.eu with The National (Abu Dhabi). 
Picture: White Helmets removing a body of a deceased COVID-19 patient (Twitter: @SyrianCivilDefe). 

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
US threatens to give up mediation efforts unless Russia and Ukraine put forward "concrete proposals”

US threatens to give up mediation efforts unless Russia and Ukraine put forward "concrete proposals”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Tuesday that the United States would give up on mediation unless Russia and Ukraine put forward "concrete proposals," as US patience wanes on an early priority for Donald Trump. The US president had vowed to end the war in his first 24 hours back in the White House but, as Trump celebrates 100 days in office, Rubio has suggested the administration could soon turn attention to other issues.

Popular

Editor's choice
News
US threatens to give up mediation efforts unless Russia and Ukraine put forward "concrete proposals”

US threatens to give up mediation efforts unless Russia and Ukraine put forward "concrete proposals”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Tuesday that the United States would give up on mediation unless Russia and Ukraine put forward "concrete proposals," as US patience wanes on an early priority for Donald Trump. The US president had vowed to end the war in his first 24 hours back in the White House but, as Trump celebrates 100 days in office, Rubio has suggested the administration could soon turn attention to other issues.