On Sunday 22 July, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini hailed the evacuation of 800 White Helmets and their families from Syria to Jordan via Israel during the night of 21 to 22 July.
The 800 White Helmets are due to be transferred to the USA, Canada and Germany. Encircled by the advance of the Syrian Army, the lives of the White Helmets were at risk. Over 250 White Helmets have been killed in five years.
This "rescue" is an "important humanitarian gesture", Mogherini stated in a press release, adding that the lives of the White Helmets had been at "imminent" risk following the recent escalation in violence in the south west of Syria.
"The EU recognises the essential efforts of Israel and Jordan, and of all others –including several EU member states – who contributed to bringing the White Helmets and their families to safety", Mogherini added. She stated that the White Helmets, also known as the Syria Civil Defence, are "a Syrian volunteer organisation dedicated to saving, protecting and helping civilians during the Syrian conflict".
Mogherini reiterated the EU's call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and full humanitarian access to all Syrian people in need. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)