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The call arrived Saturday night. In the war zone raging in southwestern Syria, 98 White Helmets – members of a volunteer relief organization, also called the Syrian Civil Defense – each brought their spouses, children and a bag staff
. collection points where they had to reach freedom in Jordan. But by the time they reached safety, they were 422. A woman went into work on the trip. His son, Nairouz, was born just before the Israeli-Syrian border
It was just a moment of drama in a complicated rescue operation to extract Syrian volunteer rescuers, to get them through the bitter enemy of their country. country, Israel, and reach Jordan by bus
Until the last minute, those who were on the ground were not certain that the operation would succeed.
Another of nearly 400 people was also to be removed. Most did not reach the meeting points in time, unable to cross the roads blocked by the advance of Syrian forces from one side and the expansion of militants of the Islamic State of l & # 39; other.
In all, it took about six hours evacuation, which was designed by Britain, Germany, and Canada, and supported by Israel, Jordan, and the United States. l & # 39; UN. And it took an unprecedented level of agreement and coordination – something that international actors have rarely shown in eight years of war in Syria.
The White Helmets is a volunteer organization that since 2013 has been responsible for saving survivors. save the dead from war in areas controlled by the opposition. He has been supported by the West since its inception and his work earned him a Nobel Prize nomination. But he drew the wrath of the Syrian government because his volunteers helped document the atrocities committed by government forces and their allies – including chemical attacks.
In five years of operations, White Helmets have saved more than 115,000 lives. The cost for the group was high, with one injured or killed on every fourth volunteer.
White Helmets risk their lives as they scour the rubble in Syria after the bombings to find survivors. They have been in increasing danger in northern Syria in recent weeks. (Khalil Ashawi / Reuters)
Operation "Hail Mary"
The evacuation was "an operation of Ave Maria" At the beginning of July, the government forces began negotiating surrender agreements with armed groups and civilians in villages and towns that were rapidly succumbing to the latest Syrian government offensive. The negotiations allowed those who refused to live under government control and moved to the north.
But not the Syrian civil defense. Syrian government officials and Russian officials said white helmets were "a red line" that needed to be "eradicated".
Discussions on the security of White Helmets began between Britain, Germany and Canada before the NATO summit on July 9. The crossing of the Jordanian border by the rebels and their rapid deployment along the border quickly made it impossible to cross Jordan. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would let them cross Israel, after a call from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US President Donald Trump
White Helmets are regularly called upon to inspect damaged buildings and look for bodies after air strikes. (White Helmets of the Syrian Civil Defense via AP)
Advanced Logistics
Locating volunteers in the rapidly changing battlefield was a challenge. Conscious of not raising expectations, the planners only asked the volunteers if they would accept an opportunity to evacuate through Israel. Some have declined, said the source, fearing the serious dangers associated with the rescue.
There was also an unexpected twist. As rebel forces retreated to many villages between Daraa and Quneitra provinces, it was a subsidiary of the Islamic State – not government forces – that changed the landscape, blocking some of the lines of the road. 39 evacuation to the evacuation points. the spirits, there was no guarantee that this evacuation was going to happen, "said a volunteer from the civil defense.The small window was closing quickly.In the night of 21 to 21 July, the evacuees gathered in two points at the north end of the border
They crossed on foot and were greeted on the other side by Israeli soldiers who verified their identities from both crossings in Jordan. 19659002] Germany, Canada and Britain declared that they were going to resettle White Helmets and their families within three months.The planners are still in touch with the volunteers who are not there. do not see them, advising them on what to do and where to be safe
The notion that White Helmets would be targeted for retribution has long been a fear of the human (Abdalrhman Ismail / Reuters) [19659024] Reproduce the the same operation and getting the remaining 100 volunteers in northern Syria will not be easy, however. It is unlikely that international actors will rally the same will again.
"Many factors and partners had to interact properly," said German Foreign Ministry spokesman Chrisofer Burger. But when he was in a hurry to find out if the action was a precedent for additional global help in evacuations, he said: "The factors that allowed in this case to help the people confronted to an acute threat, a very specific group, can not be reproduced. "
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