When the rebel groups stormed the capital city of Damascus on December 8, one of the first things they did was free the prisoners from the Sednaya prison.&nbsp;

However, now that the regime of President Bashar al-Assad has been toppled and Damascus has been seized, reports have emerged about the inaccessibility of subterranean cells that belong to the so-called “human slaughterhouse”.&nbsp;

Syrian Civil Defence forces, the White Helmets, expressed their fears of people being trapped inside these subterranean cells and said that five specialised emergency teams have been deployed at the Sednaya Prison to investigate the hidden cells.

The organisation said that the operation can be challenging and may cause delays.&nbsp;

“The White Helmets has deployed 5 specialised emergency teams to Sednaya Prison to investigate hidden underground cells, reportedly holding detainees according to survivors,” wrote The White Helmets on X.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-toppling-of-assad-us-airstrikes-isis-camps-hidden-in-syria-782556">US conducts airstrikes on ISIS camps in Syria as Biden calls end of Assad regime an 'act of justice'</a>

“The teams consist of search and rescue units, wall-breaching specialists, iron door-opening crews, trained dog units, and medical responders. These teams are well-trained and equipped to manage such complex operations,” stated the civil body.&nbsp;

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The White Helmets has deployed 5 specialized emergency teams to Sednaya Prison to investigate hidden underground cells, reportedly holding detainees according to survivors. The teams consist of search and rescue units, wall-breaching specialists, iron door-opening crews, trained…
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As per the authorities, two teams have already started their rescue operation, and soon others will be stationed.

“Two teams arrived about an hour ago and have already begun their mission, accompanied by a guide familiar with the prison’s layout. The remaining teams are expected to arrive gradually, delayed by challenging security conditions on the roads and severe traffic congestion,” said the body.

<h2>Prisoners freed from jail as Assad regime falls</h2>

Videos of rebels breaking the doors of the prison and freeing the inmates were shared and circulated on social media.

In the footage, thousands were seen leaving the prison as people screamed on the streets.

Watch:&nbsp;Assad's Ouster A Ray Of Hope For Gaza Hostages?

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Meanwhile, the BBC reported that the Damascus Countryside Governorate took to social media to appeal to former soldiers and prison workers to share codes of electronic underground doors so that those locked inside them can be freed.

They said that they failed to open the doors to free “more than 100,000 detainees who can be seen on CCTV monitors”.&nbsp;

Efforts are also being made to knock out a lower wall using a type of post by the volunteers, as per Al Jazeera.

HTS, meanwhile, claimed that more than 3,500 detainees have been freed by them from the Homs Military Prison.

(With inputs from agencies)

Disclaimer: WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and non-state actors like the Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

When the rebel groups stormed the capital city of Damascus on December 8, one of the first things they did was free the prisoners from the Sednaya prison. However, now that the regime of President Bashar al-Assad has been toppled and Damascus has been seized, reports have emerged about the inaccessibility of subterranean cells that belong to the so-called “human slaughterhouse”.

When the rebel groups stormed the capital city of Damascus on December 8, one of the first things they did was free the prisoners from the Sednaya prison. However, now that the regime of President Bashar al-Assad has been toppled and Damascus has been seized, reports have emerged about the inaccessibility of subterranean cells that belong to the so-called “human slaughterhouse”. Syrian Civil Defence forces, the White Helmets, expressed their fears of people being trapped inside these subterranean cells and said that five specialised emergency teams have been deployed at the Sednaya Prison to investigate the hidden cells. The organisation said that the operation can be challenging and may cause delays. “The White Helmets has deployed 5 specialised emergency teams to Sednaya Prison to investigate hidden underground cells, reportedly holding detainees according to survivors,” wrote The White Helmets on X. Also Read: US conducts airstrikes on ISIS camps in Syria as Biden calls end of Assad regime an 'act of justice' “The teams consist of search and rescue units, wall-breaching specialists, iron door-opening crews, trained dog units, and medical responders. These teams are well-trained and equipped to manage such complex operations,” stated the civil body. The White Helmets has deployed 5 specialized emergency teams to Sednaya Prison to investigate hidden underground cells, reportedly holding detainees according to survivors. The teams consist of search and rescue units, wall-breaching specialists, iron door-opening crews, trained… — The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) December 8, 2024 × As per the authorities, two teams have already started their rescue operation, and soon others will be stationed. “Two teams arrived about an hour ago and have already begun their mission, accompanied by a guide familiar with the prison’s layout. The remaining teams are expected to arrive gradually, delayed by challenging security conditions on the roads and severe traffic congestion,” said the body. Prisoners freed from jail as Assad regime falls Videos of rebels breaking the doors of the prison and freeing the inmates were shared and circulated on social media. In the footage, thousands were seen leaving the prison as people screamed on the streets. Watch: Assad's Ouster A Ray Of Hope For Gaza Hostages? Meanwhile, the BBC reported that the Damascus Countryside Governorate took to social media to appeal to former soldiers and prison workers to share codes of electronic underground doors so that those locked inside them can be freed. They said that they failed to open the doors to free “more than 100,000 detainees who can be seen on CCTV monitors”. Efforts are also being made to knock out a lower wall using a type of post by the volunteers, as per Al Jazeera. HTS, meanwhile, claimed that more than 3,500 detainees have been freed by them from the Homs Military Prison. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and non-state actors like the Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Are people trapped in hidden underground cells of notorious Syrian prison? White Helmets investigates

Turkey-Syria Earthquake: For more than 29 hours, the rescue workers of White Helmets, exhausted but mentally undefeated, continue to pull out lives trapped underneath the mound of rubble as search and rescue efforts continue after northwestern Syria and southern Turkey were hit by five devastating earthquakes, killing so far more than 5,000 people.

Turning into one of the worst disasters in mankind's history, the monstrous earthquake's toll continues to rise dramatically as rescuers make the frantic search for survivors amid the concrete and debris, with lives fleeting away with every passing second.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/middle-east/turkey-syria-earthquake-live-un-says-death-toll-likely-to-cross-20000-countries-send-aid-559432">Turkey-Syria earthquake Live Updates | Combined death toll surpasses 5,000; WHO says 23mln people affected</a>

The humanitarian workers of Nobel Peace Prize-nominated White Helmets, officially known as Syria Civil Defence, with their resilience and bravery continue saving lives and hopes amid the harsh weather conditions.

Speaking to WION about the tough conditions in which the volunteers are working in Syria, White Helmets' representative Oubadah Alwan says, "Our volunteers on the ground are facing challenges in all aspects of their rescue efforts. The situation is catastrophic, and our organisation is not equipped to handle this scale of the disaster."

<h2>No safe zone, people stranded in freezing cold</h2>

He said people have lost everything they had and now have no shelter or safe zone. The survivors are out in the freezing cold with lack of medical equipment and overwhelmed hospitals, he adds.

WATCH |&nbsp;Russian military personnel join rescue effort in quake-hit Syrian cities

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"Buildings and homes have been completely destroyed, leaving people with no shelter during the harsh winter. There is no safe zone. People are out in the freezing cold with nowhere to go. Hospitals are beyond capacity and there is a shortage of medical equipment and supplies. Additionally, the search and rescue efforts, carried out in freezing temperatures and amidst aftershocks, have been ongoing for over 24 hours," Alwan told WION.

<h2>Resources spread thin, response limited</h2>

Hinting at the dark days ahead, Alwan laments that resources are spreading thin and those who were already displaced in Syria are now struggling for survival.

"At the moment, our resources are spread thin in every aspect. The response efforts and distribution of aid are stretched thin, making it difficult to meet the needs of the people. The displaced in Syria were already struggling to survive with limited resources, and now the response is even more limited due to the earthquake. The situation on the ground is still catastrophic with ongoing rescue efforts, however, our field workers have rescued approximately 2,200 civilians."

<img alt="Earthquake" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b5ff2ed3-b721-4810-b3bf-f9d85bf230a6" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-02-07T160729.025.png" />

<h2>'Saving a life every second'</h2>

Narrating the on-ground difficulties, Alwan says that the response efforts of White Helmets have been hindered by aftershocks and strong earthquakes. As people scramble for lives and volunteers are able to respond to the initial tragedy, another tragedy strikes, he adds.

"We’ve been able to rescue many people, but there has been a large death toll till now and still people are trapped under the rubble. Volunteers are working as hard as they can to save people, but they are at full capacity. The death toll is expected to dramatically rise as hundreds remain trapped under rubble. Time is running out. Every second could mean saving a life," Alwan says.

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Survivors rescued from under the rubble after hours of work in the city of Al-Dana, north of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Idlib?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Idlib</a>. 2,800+ deaths and injuries and hundreds of families still trapped under the rubble after the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/earthquake?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#earthquake</a> that struck NW <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Syria?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Syria</a> today, Monday, February 6. <a href="https://t.co/WRPbbSNcC6">pic.twitter.com/WRPbbSNcC6</a>
— The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) <a href="https://twitter.com/SyriaCivilDef/status/1622714580811087893?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The volunteers tirelessly continue to fight for every single life crying with hope to see the light break through the darkness of doomsday, praying to be counted among survivors and not among those dead in the worst catastrophic disasters in the history of mankind.

You can&nbsp;now write for wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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Turkey-Syria Earthquake: For more than 29 hours, the rescue workers of White Helmets, exhausted but mentally undefeated, continue to pull out lives trapped underneath the mound of rubble as search and rescue efforts continue after northwestern Syria and southern Turkey were hit by five devastating earthquakes, killing so far more than 5,000 people.

Turkey-Syria Earthquake: For more than 29 hours, the rescue workers of White Helmets, exhausted but mentally undefeated, continue to pull out lives trapped underneath the mound of rubble as search and rescue efforts continue after northwestern Syria and southern Turkey were hit by five devastating earthquakes, killing so far more than 5,000 people. Turning into one of the worst disasters in mankind's history, the monstrous earthquake's toll continues to rise dramatically as rescuers make the frantic search for survivors amid the concrete and debris, with lives fleeting away with every passing second. ALSO READ | Turkey-Syria earthquake Live Updates | Combined death toll surpasses 5,000; WHO says 23mln people affected The humanitarian workers of Nobel Peace Prize-nominated White Helmets, officially known as Syria Civil Defence, with their resilience and bravery continue saving lives and hopes amid the harsh weather conditions. Speaking to WION about the tough conditions in which the volunteers are working in Syria, White Helmets' representative Oubadah Alwan says, "Our volunteers on the ground are facing challenges in all aspects of their rescue efforts. The situation is catastrophic, and our organisation is not equipped to handle this scale of the disaster." No safe zone, people stranded in freezing cold He said people have lost everything they had and now have no shelter or safe zone. The survivors are out in the freezing cold with lack of medical equipment and overwhelmed hospitals, he adds. WATCH | Russian military personnel join rescue effort in quake-hit Syrian cities "Buildings and homes have been completely destroyed, leaving people with no shelter during the harsh winter. There is no safe zone. People are out in the freezing cold with nowhere to go. Hospitals are beyond capacity and there is a shortage of medical equipment and supplies. Additionally, the search and rescue efforts, carried out in freezing temperatures and amidst aftershocks, have been ongoing for over 24 hours," Alwan told WION. Resources spread thin, response limited Hinting at the dark days ahead, Alwan laments that resources are spreading thin and those who were already displaced in Syria are now struggling for survival. "At the moment, our resources are spread thin in every aspect. The response efforts and distribution of aid are stretched thin, making it difficult to meet the needs of the people. The displaced in Syria were already struggling to survive with limited resources, and now the response is even more limited due to the earthquake. The situation on the ground is still catastrophic with ongoing rescue efforts, however, our field workers have rescued approximately 2,200 civilians." 'Saving a life every second' Narrating the on-ground difficulties, Alwan says that the response efforts of White Helmets have been hindered by aftershocks and strong earthquakes. As people scramble for lives and volunteers are able to respond to the initial tragedy, another tragedy strikes, he adds. "We’ve been able to rescue many people, but there has been a large death toll till now and still people are trapped under the rubble. Volunteers are working as hard as they can to save people, but they are at full capacity. The death toll is expected to dramatically rise as hundreds remain trapped under rubble. Time is running out. Every second could mean saving a life," Alwan says. Survivors rescued from under the rubble after hours of work in the city of Al-Dana, north of #Idlib. 2,800+ deaths and injuries and hundreds of families still trapped under the rubble after the #earthquake that struck NW #Syria today, Monday, February 6. pic.twitter.com/WRPbbSNcC6 — The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) February 6, 2023 × The volunteers tirelessly continue to fight for every single life crying with hope to see the light break through the darkness of doomsday, praying to be counted among survivors and not among those dead in the worst catastrophic disasters in the history of mankind. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

EXCLUSIVE | Turkey-Syria quake situation catastrophic, resources stretched thin: White Helmets

Rescue workers from Syria&#39;s White Helmets group -- the subject of an Oscar-nominated documentary -- will not attend this weekend&#39;s Academy Awards ceremony because of intensified regime bombing, their leader said Saturday.

&quot;I am not going because of our workload due to intensified regime strikes on the provinces of Damascus, Daraa and Homs,&quot; Raed Saleh told AFP.

&quot;There are many things that have to be done on the ground, such as managing operations and providing emergency vehicles,&quot; he said.

Saleh and fellow White Helmet member Khaled Khatib had been set to attend Sunday&#39;s ceremony in Hollywood, where &quot;The White Helmets&quot; is shortlisted for best short documentary.

Istanbul-based Khatib, who shot much of the footage, also confirmed that he would not attend the ceremony, despite obtaining an American visa.

&quot;I won&#39;t travel to OSCAR due to intensity of work, our priority is helping our people,&quot; he tweeted in English on Saturday.

&quot;I was going to leave on Tuesday, but there was too much work because of the bombing,&quot; Khatib told AFP by telephone.

&quot;I&#39;m also working on producing another film about the White Helmets that has to be ready in two weeks. I will not go.&quot;

The two rescuers had feared they could be barred from attending the ceremony because of US President Donald Trump&#39;s&nbsp;late January executive order imposing a 90-day entry ban for citizens of seven Muslim majority countries, including Syria.

The ban has since been lifted by a US federal court, and on February 18 the pair received their visas.

More than 310,000 people have died since Syria&#39;s conflict erupted in March 2011, and more than half of the country&#39;s citizens have been forced to flee their homes.

Since the White Helmets group was created in 2013, it has hired more than 3,000 volunteers and claims to have saved more than 78,000 lives.

It takes its name from the protective headgear worn by its members.

(AFP)

'The White Helmets' -- a documentary based on their organisation -- has been nominated at this year's Academy Awards

Rescue workers from Syria's White Helmets group -- the subject of an Oscar-nominated documentary -- will not attend this weekend's Academy Awards ceremony because of intensified regime bombing, their leader said Saturday. "I am not going because of our workload due to intensified regime strikes on the provinces of Damascus, Daraa and Homs," Raed Saleh told AFP. "There are many things that have to be done on the ground, such as managing operations and providing emergency vehicles," he said. Saleh and fellow White Helmet member Khaled Khatib had been set to attend Sunday's ceremony in Hollywood, where "The White Helmets" is shortlisted for best short documentary. Istanbul-based Khatib, who shot much of the footage, also confirmed that he would not attend the ceremony, despite obtaining an American visa. "I won't travel to OSCAR due to intensity of work, our priority is helping our people," he tweeted in English on Saturday. "I was going to leave on Tuesday, but there was too much work because of the bombing," Khatib told AFP by telephone. "I'm also working on producing another film about the White Helmets that has to be ready in two weeks. I will not go." The two rescuers had feared they could be barred from attending the ceremony because of US President Donald Trump's late January executive order imposing a 90-day entry ban for citizens of seven Muslim majority countries, including Syria. The ban has since been lifted by a US federal court, and on February 18 the pair received their visas. More than 310,000 people have died since Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011, and more than half of the country's citizens have been forced to flee their homes. Since the White Helmets group was created in 2013, it has hired more than 3,000 volunteers and claims to have saved more than 78,000 lives. It takes its name from the protective headgear worn by its members. (AFP)

Syria's White Helmets group to shun Oscars over growing regime bombing

Russian air strikes in the Aleppo, Syria, region have killed some 1,207 civilians, 380 of them children, the Syrian White Helmets civil defence group told United Nations war crimes investigators in a letter seen by Reuters on Thursday.

The White Helmets, the Syrian Network for Human Rights, Independent Doctors Association and the Violations Documentation Center outlined their accusations against Russia in a 39-page document submitted to the UN&nbsp;Commission of Inquiry on Syria.&nbsp;

The document lists some 304 alleged attacks carried out primarily between July and December in the Aleppo region in which the groups say there is a &quot;high likelihood&quot; of Russia responsibility.&nbsp;

The Russian UN&nbsp;mission was not immediately available to comment on the allegations. Russia, which had been backing a military offensive by Syrian government troops in the city of Aleppo, has said it stopped air strikes there in mid-October.

&quot;Evidence clearly indicates that Russia has committed or been complicit in war crimes in Syria,&quot; the White Helmets letter to the UN&nbsp;inquiry said.&nbsp;

The document said the accusations were based on witness testimony and corroborating evidence, which includes video footage identifying the aircraft responsible for attacks, audio intercepted from aircraft cockpits and the munitions used.

Thousands of people were evacuated on Thursday from the last rebel bastion in Aleppo, the first to leave under a ceasefire deal that would end years of fighting for the city and mark a major victory for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

In October, the UN&nbsp;Human Rights Council asked the UN&nbsp;commission of inquiry on Syria, led by Paulo Pinheiro, to identify the perpetrators of war crimes in the city of Aleppo.

The UN&nbsp;high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Ra&#39;ad al-Hussein, said in October that air strikes in the city of Aleppo&#39;s rebel-held east by government forces and allies were responsible for the overwhelming majority of civilian casualties.

&nbsp;

(Reuters)

In a letter to the UN war crimes investigator, the civil defence group said Russian airstrikes in Aleppo have killed some 1,207 civilians

Russian air strikes in the Aleppo, Syria, region have killed some 1,207 civilians, 380 of them children, the Syrian White Helmets civil defence group told United Nations war crimes investigators in a letter seen by Reuters on Thursday. The White Helmets, the Syrian Network for Human Rights, Independent Doctors Association and the Violations Documentation Center outlined their accusations against Russia in a 39-page document submitted to the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria. The document lists some 304 alleged attacks carried out primarily between July and December in the Aleppo region in which the groups say there is a "high likelihood" of Russia responsibility. The Russian UN mission was not immediately available to comment on the allegations. Russia, which had been backing a military offensive by Syrian government troops in the city of Aleppo, has said it stopped air strikes there in mid-October. "Evidence clearly indicates that Russia has committed or been complicit in war crimes in Syria," the White Helmets letter to the UN inquiry said. The document said the accusations were based on witness testimony and corroborating evidence, which includes video footage identifying the aircraft responsible for attacks, audio intercepted from aircraft cockpits and the munitions used. Thousands of people were evacuated on Thursday from the last rebel bastion in Aleppo, the first to leave under a ceasefire deal that would end years of fighting for the city and mark a major victory for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. In October, the UN Human Rights Council asked the UN commission of inquiry on Syria, led by Paulo Pinheiro, to identify the perpetrators of war crimes in the city of Aleppo. The UN high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, said in October that air strikes in the city of Aleppo's rebel-held east by government forces and allies were responsible for the overwhelming majority of civilian casualties. (Reuters)

Syria: White Helmets accuse Russia of 'war crimes' in Aleppo

The inhabitants of besieged rebel-held eastern Aleppo have fewer than ten days to receive aid or face starvation and death from a lack of medical supplies, the head of the Syria Civil Defence, or &quot;White Helmets&quot;, said on Thursday.

The volunteer group which works in opposition-held territory and has rescued thousands of people from buildings bombed in the civil war is also running out of basic equipment from trucks to diesel and gas masks.

&quot;You cannot imagine how the situation is,&quot; Raed Al Saleh told Reuters through a translator. Saleh was in Stockholm to receive the Right Livelihood Award, known as Sweden&#39;s &quot;alternative Nobel prize.&quot;

&quot;Doctors and the rescue workers in Aleppo are just using what&#39;s left of the equipment after bombardments to do whatever they can do,&quot; Saleh said.

Rebels in the eastern part of Aleppo city have agreed to a UN plan for aid delivery and medical evacuations, but the United Nations is awaiting a green light from Russia and the Syrian government, humanitarian adviser Jan Egeland said on Thursday.

With freezing winter conditions setting in, about 275,000 people are trapped in eastern Aleppo, where the last UN food rations were distributed on Nov. 13.

Saleh said doctors were so short of supplies they were resorting to making life and death decisions over who receives surgery. &quot;They cannot accept everyone ... There are not enough materials and not enough doctors,&quot; he said.

Saleh said the White Helmets had lost 50 per cent of their equipment in the last two months.

Ambulances&nbsp;

&quot;We have consumed all the stock of first aid kits in our centres and we have consumed all our stock of gas masks. We are concerned that within ten days we may consume all our remaining stock of diesel which is required for the ambulances and the trucks to move,&quot; he said.

The White Helmets director said his workers had responded to approximately ten chlorine attacks in Aleppo in the last ten days - the last being on Wednesday.

Rami Abdulrahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the Syrian conflict, said the Observatory had documented two incidents of chlorine attacks in the past fortnight.

On November 11, the executive body of the global chemical weapons watchdog OPCW condemned the alleged use of banned toxic agents by the Syrian government and by Islamic State militants.

A 13-month international inquiry by the OPCW and United Nations concluded in a series of reports that Syrian government forces were responsible for the use of chlorine barrel bombs against civilians.

Syrian authorities deny having used chemical weapons in the conflict. Islamic State has not commented.

Saleh also criticised Russia, which is backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the conflict.

&quot;I believe the withdrawal of Russia from the International Criminal Court is because it knows it commits war crimes in Syria and it doesn&#39;t want to be accountable,&quot; he said.

The White Helmets shared the award this year with Egyptian feminist and human rights activist Mozn Hassan, Russia&#39;s Svetlana Gannushkina, who campaigns for the rights of migrants and refugees, and independent Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet.

The four laureates share a cash award of 3 million Swedish crowns ($324,000).

(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

About 275,000 people are trapped in eastern Aleppo where the last UN food rations were distributed on November 13

The inhabitants of besieged rebel-held eastern Aleppo have fewer than ten days to receive aid or face starvation and death from a lack of medical supplies, the head of the Syria Civil Defence, or "White Helmets", said on Thursday. The volunteer group which works in opposition-held territory and has rescued thousands of people from buildings bombed in the civil war is also running out of basic equipment from trucks to diesel and gas masks. "You cannot imagine how the situation is," Raed Al Saleh told Reuters through a translator. Saleh was in Stockholm to receive the Right Livelihood Award, known as Sweden's "alternative Nobel prize." "Doctors and the rescue workers in Aleppo are just using what's left of the equipment after bombardments to do whatever they can do," Saleh said. Rebels in the eastern part of Aleppo city have agreed to a UN plan for aid delivery and medical evacuations, but the United Nations is awaiting a green light from Russia and the Syrian government, humanitarian adviser Jan Egeland said on Thursday. With freezing winter conditions setting in, about 275,000 people are trapped in eastern Aleppo, where the last UN food rations were distributed on Nov. 13. Saleh said doctors were so short of supplies they were resorting to making life and death decisions over who receives surgery. "They cannot accept everyone ... There are not enough materials and not enough doctors," he said. Saleh said the White Helmets had lost 50 per cent of their equipment in the last two months. Ambulances "We have consumed all the stock of first aid kits in our centres and we have consumed all our stock of gas masks. We are concerned that within ten days we may consume all our remaining stock of diesel which is required for the ambulances and the trucks to move," he said. The White Helmets director said his workers had responded to approximately ten chlorine attacks in Aleppo in the last ten days - the last being on Wednesday. Rami Abdulrahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the Syrian conflict, said the Observatory had documented two incidents of chlorine attacks in the past fortnight. On November 11, the executive body of the global chemical weapons watchdog OPCW condemned the alleged use of banned toxic agents by the Syrian government and by Islamic State militants. A 13-month international inquiry by the OPCW and United Nations concluded in a series of reports that Syrian government forces were responsible for the use of chlorine barrel bombs against civilians. Syrian authorities deny having used chemical weapons in the conflict. Islamic State has not commented. Saleh also criticised Russia, which is backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the conflict. "I believe the withdrawal of Russia from the International Criminal Court is because it knows it commits war crimes in Syria and it doesn't want to be accountable," he said. The White Helmets shared the award this year with Egyptian feminist and human rights activist Mozn Hassan, Russia's Svetlana Gannushkina, who campaigns for the rights of migrants and refugees, and independent Turkish newspaper Cumhuriyet. The four laureates share a cash award of 3 million Swedish crowns ($324,000). (Reuters)

Aleppo residents 10 days from starvation, say White Helmets

Before war broke out they were bakers, decorators or students. Now Syria&#39;s volunteer rescuers known as the White Helmets risk their lives trying to pull victims from the rubble.

Footage of the daring, often heart-rending rescues carried out by the group&#39;s nearly 3,000 volunteers has frequently gone viral, earning it plaudits around the world.

Images of the aftermath of bombardments of rebel-held areas almost invariably show White Helmets sprinting into clouds of dust and digging through the debris, often with little more than their bare hands.

Among the most famous footage was the July 2014 rescue of Mahmud, a two-month-old dubbed the &quot;miracle baby&quot; after he was pulled from the rubble of a building in battleground second city Aleppo following more than 12 hours of digging.

His rescuer Khaled was killed in August in an air strike on the rebel-held east of the city, one of more than 140 White Helmets killed in the war. A painter and decorator, he was an early volunteer for the group, his round face distinguished by his crooked nose and bright eyes.

He was just 31 when he died and left behind a wife and two daughters. &quot;If I die saving lives, I think God would definitely consider me a martyr,&quot; he once said.

&#39;Outstanding bravery&#39;

A more recent video showed a volunteer sobbing as he cradled a four-month-old girl he helped rescue in Idlib province.

&quot;We&#39;ve been working for two hours to get her out from under the rubble and thank God, it turns out she is alive,&quot; he said, as the girl, covered in dust, coughed and grabbed his collar. In late September, the group won a Swedish human rights prize often referred to an &quot;alternative Nobel&quot; with the jury hailing their &quot;outstanding bravery, compassion and humanitarian engagement.&quot;

It was also seen as a contender for this year&#39;s Nobel Peace Prize, and while it did not win it attracted support from a slew of celebrities. The group was also the subject of a Netflix short documentary.

The rescue group emerged in 2013, when the civil war that has now killed more than 300,000 people was nearing its third year. It was not until the following year that it took its current form and began to be known as the &quot;White Helmets&quot; for the distinctive hardhats worn by its volunteers.

The group&#39;s motto -- &quot;To save one life is to save all of humanity&quot; -- is drawn from a verse of the Koran, although the White Helmets insist they treat all victims, regardless of religion. Some of its members have received training abroad, returning home to instruct colleagues on search-and-rescue techniques.

It receives funding from a number of governments, including Britain, Denmark, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands and the United States, but also solicits individual donations to purchase equipment, including their signature hardhats, which cost $144.64.

&#39;Real life heroes&#39;

More than five years into the conflict, the organisation now operates some 120 centres in eight provinces in Syria. Its volunteers include 78 women.

It operates only in rebel-held areas, saying it is not permitted to work in government-held territory, but insists its volunteers are neutral. &quot;We are independent, neutral and impartial, we are not affiliated to any political or armed group,&quot; White Helmet leader Raed Saleh told AFP last month.

&quot;We are ready to rescue people regardless of their political or religious background.&quot;

Still, the organisation is not without its critics, mostly backers of President Bashar al-Assad&#39;s government. Some accuse it of being a tool of its international donors, governments that largely support the opposition.

Others have charged that the group&#39;s volunteers include rebel fighters or even jihadists, circulating pictures purportedly showing White Helmets in civilian clothing bearing arms. But elsewhere, the group&#39;s members have been hailed as &quot;real life heroes&quot; focused only on saving lives.

&quot;We stand for the victims and it is our responsibility and our duty to work for the victims,&quot; Saleh said.

(AFP) 
&nbsp;

The White Helmets rescue force, nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, are often the first responders to airstrikes in war-ravaged Syria

Before war broke out they were bakers, decorators or students. Now Syria's volunteer rescuers known as the White Helmets risk their lives trying to pull victims from the rubble. Footage of the daring, often heart-rending rescues carried out by the group's nearly 3,000 volunteers has frequently gone viral, earning it plaudits around the world. Images of the aftermath of bombardments of rebel-held areas almost invariably show White Helmets sprinting into clouds of dust and digging through the debris, often with little more than their bare hands. Among the most famous footage was the July 2014 rescue of Mahmud, a two-month-old dubbed the "miracle baby" after he was pulled from the rubble of a building in battleground second city Aleppo following more than 12 hours of digging. His rescuer Khaled was killed in August in an air strike on the rebel-held east of the city, one of more than 140 White Helmets killed in the war. A painter and decorator, he was an early volunteer for the group, his round face distinguished by his crooked nose and bright eyes. He was just 31 when he died and left behind a wife and two daughters. "If I die saving lives, I think God would definitely consider me a martyr," he once said. 'Outstanding bravery' A more recent video showed a volunteer sobbing as he cradled a four-month-old girl he helped rescue in Idlib province. "We've been working for two hours to get her out from under the rubble and thank God, it turns out she is alive," he said, as the girl, covered in dust, coughed and grabbed his collar. In late September, the group won a Swedish human rights prize often referred to an "alternative Nobel" with the jury hailing their "outstanding bravery, compassion and humanitarian engagement." It was also seen as a contender for this year's Nobel Peace Prize, and while it did not win it attracted support from a slew of celebrities. The group was also the subject of a Netflix short documentary. The rescue group emerged in 2013, when the civil war that has now killed more than 300,000 people was nearing its third year. It was not until the following year that it took its current form and began to be known as the "White Helmets" for the distinctive hardhats worn by its volunteers. The group's motto -- "To save one life is to save all of humanity" -- is drawn from a verse of the Koran, although the White Helmets insist they treat all victims, regardless of religion. Some of its members have received training abroad, returning home to instruct colleagues on search-and-rescue techniques. It receives funding from a number of governments, including Britain, Denmark, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands and the United States, but also solicits individual donations to purchase equipment, including their signature hardhats, which cost $144.64. 'Real life heroes' More than five years into the conflict, the organisation now operates some 120 centres in eight provinces in Syria. Its volunteers include 78 women. It operates only in rebel-held areas, saying it is not permitted to work in government-held territory, but insists its volunteers are neutral. "We are independent, neutral and impartial, we are not affiliated to any political or armed group," White Helmet leader Raed Saleh told AFP last month. "We are ready to rescue people regardless of their political or religious background." Still, the organisation is not without its critics, mostly backers of President Bashar al-Assad's government. Some accuse it of being a tool of its international donors, governments that largely support the opposition. Others have charged that the group's volunteers include rebel fighters or even jihadists, circulating pictures purportedly showing White Helmets in civilian clothing bearing arms. But elsewhere, the group's members have been hailed as "real life heroes" focused only on saving lives. "We stand for the victims and it is our responsibility and our duty to work for the victims," Saleh said. (AFP)

Syria's White Helmets: Real-life heroes who run towards bombs

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