The Syrian Civil Defense organization, also known as, “White Helmets,” volunteer essential services to millions of endangered civilians in rebel-controlled areas of Syria 

WASHINGTON– U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (MN) met with leaders of the Syrian Civil Defense nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. The Syrian Civil Defense organization, also known as, “White Helmets,” volunteer to do search and rescue and to provide essential services to millions of endangered civilians in rebel-controlled areas of Syria.

“It was an honor to speak with members of the leadership of the Syrian Civil Defense organization, whose bravery and selfless service has saved more than one hundred thousand innocent civilians during the Syrian civil war. The conflict has led to one of the world’s worst refugee crises. We must continue to support the White Helmets as they risk their lives to serve civilians being targeted by the Assad regime and its allies,” Klobuchar said.

Syrian Civil Defense is led by a democratically-elected Leadership Council that represents teams conducting search and rescue and providing essential services across Syria. It is officially recognized as a humanitarian NGO, with a commitment to providing services to anyone in need. As of April 2018, the organization said it had saved over 114,000 lives. More than half of the 252 volunteers who have been killed in the line of duty since 2013 have been killed by the Syrian regime and Russian warplanes in ‘double-tap’ strikes when they return to the bombing site to target rescue workers.

CAPTION: Senator Klobuchar meets with leaders and representatives of the Syrian Civil Defense organization nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, Mounir Mustafa, Radi Saad, and Kenan Rahmani.