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Several hundred White Helmets are still stranded in southern Syria in the aftermath of Israeli-orchestrated evacuations, two AFPs told AFP on Monday, who are worried about what the regime could do for them. [19659002] "We call on the parties concerned to help us out" of southern Syria, told AFP César, 23, a volunteer of the White Helmets' press team in the city of Deraa.
Israel announced Sunday the evacuation to Jordan of hundreds of White Helmets and their family members, in an operation carried out in the utmost secrecy at the request of Western countries ready to welcome these rescuers, who became world famous for their operations in the rebel areas.
A total of 422 evacuees in the night from Saturday to Sunday had arrived in Jordan, according to Amman.
Eventually, they must be met in Britain, Germany, Canada or France, which badured Monday that it "would take its share" in the reception of these men whose work had earned them to be considered for the Nobel Prize of the peace in 2016.
The evacuation, "it was the only choice for our volunteers (…) who otherwise would have risked detention or death in the hands of the Syrian regime and its Russian ally," The White Helmets announced in a statement Monday.
– Appeal for Help –
A total of 98 White Helmets volunteers were able to leave for Jordan with 324 members of their families, the group said. 19659002] According to Chief Raed Saleh, not all volunteers were evacuated because some were not on the lists, while "others were unable to reach the evacuation point. ". He said another similar operation was not planned.
The group called for help from the international community for volunteers still stranded in southern Syria.
"We thank all governments that have contributed to the success of this relief operation, and we ask them to do more to help "those remaining in southern Syria," he said.
According to César, nearly 400 others are still trapped in the southern provinces of Deraa and Quneitra.
In these areas near the Israeli-occupied part of the Golan Heights, the Damascus regime has taken over almost all rebel territories after deadly offensives and surrender agreements.
Caesar told AFP he had learned "by chance" a few days ago that there was an evacuation plan for the White Helmets but when he tried to register, officials explained to him There was no more room.
"The exit via Israel has only worsened the situation," he added. "There is fear now the reaction of the regime and Russia" ally of Damascus.
The regime of Bashar al-Assad, which regularly accuses the White Helmets of being linked to jihadist groups, on Monday lashed out at evacuations carried out by Israel as a "criminal operation"
In a statement, the Russian diplomacy also denounced them.
"It is symbolic that the White Helmets have preferred, thanks to foreign support, to flee Syria in thus revealing their true nature and showing to the world their hypocrisy (?), what funding they depend on and from whom they execute the orders, "says this text.
-" No clemency "-
Interviewed by AFP by phone, Emad, another rescuer stuck in the south, badured: "We do not know what lies ahead."
"When the regime catches someone, he is lost, we do not know where he There is no clemency, "said the young volunteer of 20 years old based in Jubata al-Khachab, a rebel town in Quneitra still waiting to be captured by the regime
Emad reported Monday that a meeting was held in Amman on the fate of the White Helmets. According to him, it emerged that the only option possible was for the rescuers still in the south, to go to the north of Syria, in a rebel zone.
Agreements known as "reconciliation" negotiated by Moscow provide generally, the departure of combatants and civilians to the insurgent territories of northern Syria who refuse to live in government territory.
"But, said Emad, there is no road to allow us to reach buses that would then take us to the north. "
The conflict that has been tearing Syria apart since 2011 has left more than 350,000 dead and millions displaced and refugees.
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