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The 11th anniversary of the founding of the Syrian Civil Defense marks a milestone that encapsulates a journey filled with sacrifice and humanitarian work under the harshest conditions. It is not merely an administrative date in the records of institutions, but rather a story of a people who chose to respond on their own when official bodies were absent—forming volunteer teams that took on the mission of rescue and confronting challenges. Since its establishment on October 25, 2013, through its integration into the Syrian Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management in June 2025, and up to the present day, Syrian Civil Defense teams continue to carry out their duties with great responsibility, offering sacrifices to protect civilians and strengthen the resilience of Syrian society in the face of natural and emergency disasters. Born from Pain In an interview with SANA, Syrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed Al-Saleh said that the organization was born from pain and transformed into a national arm for disaster management—despite the lack of funding, smear campaigns, and political targeting. It remains a testament to the Syrians’ ability to organize and take initiative, even in the harshest moments. “Initially, volunteer teams formed from Syrian citizens—doctors, lawyers, students, and workers from various professions—under multiple local names, such as the General Civil Defense Authority’ in Ghouta Damascus, the ‘War Firefighting Brigade’ in Homs, and the ‘War Civil Defense’ in Aleppo,” Al-Saleh said. He added, in 2013, a meeting was arranged bringing together 72 leaders from civil defense teams, some attending in person and others online from besieged areas. During this meeting, the founding charter of the Syrian Civil Defense was signed, later known as the ‘White Helmets,’ before officially merging into the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management.” Saving 128,000 Civilians and Losing 325 Volunteers Al-Saleh added that during February 2023 earthquake disaster, the Syrian Civil Defense played a pivotal role in amplifying the voices of affected areas to the world, which helped open border crossings six days after the disaster and allowed humanitarian aid to enter. Despite limited resources, they achieved significant success in rescue operations. Regarding the wildfires that broke out this summer in the Syrian coast and other regions, Al-Saleh noted that the teams worked around the clock with support from international teams. They made sacrifices, including lives lost, while working on fire lines, mine clearance, and road opening—ultimately succeeding in controlling and extinguishing the fires. These and other humanitarian efforts helped build bridges of trust between society and institutions. The minister pointed out that throughout its journey, the organization has saved more than 128,000 civilians and lost 325 volunteers from its teams. It continues to operate with full responsibility in any mission assigned to it. Preparing Training Programs Following the integration of Civil Defense into the Ministry of Emergency, a new phase of organization began. Al-Saleh said that Civil Defense teams and firefighting brigades were merged, and efforts are underway to recruit new personnel in cooperation with the Ministry of Administrative Development, within a legal governmental framework. Joint drills and exercises have been launched with Qatari and French Civil Defense, and training programs are being prepared in Saudi Arabia and Jordan to enhance capabilities and strengthen humanitarian and community resilience. Translated by Mazen Eyon
