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When airstrikes rain down on rebel-held parts of Syria, a group of 3,000 civilian volunteers are usually the first to respond.

The Syrian Civil Defense, known commonly as the White Helmets, is a volunteer corps of Syrians who act as first respondents in the Syrian civil war, which is now in its sixth year. Established in 2013, the group’s charter is simple: to carry out search-and-rescue operations to save the maximum number of lives.

Inspired by a Quranic verse that says “to save a life is to save all of humanity,” the group has rescued more than 60,000 people—a feat that earned them the Right to Livelihood Award, commonly known as the “Alternative Nobel Prize,” in recognition for their “outstanding bravery, compassion and humanitarian engagement in rescuing civilians.” It has also put them in contention for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Although it has received support from many organizations and high-profile figures, it has been criticized by supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime—and by Assad himself—for its ties to Western governments, from which the group receives millions of dollars in funding.

WHO-White Helmets

     WHEN-in 2013

     WHAT-White Helmets, is a volunteer corps of Syrians who act as first respondents in the Syrian civil war

     WHY-to save the maximum number of lives.

     WHERE-in Syria

     HOW- to carry out search-and-rescue operations to save the maximum number of lives.

http://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2016/09/syria-white-helmets/502073/

keywords:

1.humanity人道

2.compassion同情

3.humanitarian人道主義者

4.civilians人民

5.contention論點,主張