Raed Al-Saleh: From the leader of the White Helmets to the Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management in the Syrian Interim Government.

In a significant move, Raed al-Saleh has been appointed as the Minister of Emergencies, Disasters, and Environment in the Syrian Transitional Government for the year 2025. Al-Saleh, born on March 1, 1984, in Jisr al-Shughur in Idlib province, is considered one of the leading humanitarian figures globally, having led the Syrian Civil Defense organization (White Helmets) in one of the most challenging and difficult environments in the history of humanitarian work. From trade to humanitarian work: an inspiring beginning Before becoming a prominent figure in the rescue field, Raed al-Saleh was involved in trading textiles and electrical goods. However, with the escalation of the Syrian crisis, he shifted towards humanitarian work on the Syrian-Turkish border. In June 2013, al-Saleh founded the Syrian Civil Defense organization, known as the White Helmets, which has been providing rescue and resuscitation services to conflict-affected areas. Establishing the White Helmets: Raed al-Saleh changes the face of humanitarian work Under his leadership, the White Helmets established specialized search and rescue teams, becoming the sole hope for many Syrians enduring the horrors of war. From training personnel in Istanbul in 2013 to launching the organization's founding conference in October 2014, the White Helmets have proven their worth on the international stage, with Raed al-Saleh being selected as one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in 2017. Local and international awards and honors: Al-Saleh and remarkable achievements Raed al-Saleh was not only a military and humanitarian leader but also received numerous international awards praising his courage. The White Helmets have garnered over 30 international awards. Under his leadership, the organization was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for three consecutive years (2016, 2017, 2018), solidifying his position as one of the world's foremost leaders in humanitarian work. From the White Helmets to the Ministry of Emergencies and Disasters In March 2025, Raed al-Saleh was appointed as the Minister of Emergencies, Disasters, and Environment in the Syrian government, continuing his journey in serving his country and enhancing response capabilities to emergencies and disasters. In this role, he will work on developing new policies to address future challenges in natural and humanitarian disasters, leveraging his extensive crisis management experience. Future vision: enhancing response and environmental planning With his deep background in disaster management and emergencies, Raed al-Saleh is expected to contribute to strengthening the capabilities of the new ministry by developing effective strategies to deal with environmental disasters and emergencies. One of his main goals is to ensure improved response by the Syrian government to future crises, enhancing the Syrian society's resilience against ongoing challenges. Raed al-Saleh is more than just a prominent name in humanitarian work; he is a symbol of leadership, courage, and the ability to turn tragedy into hope. Through his rich experience and remarkable achievements, he will undoubtedly contribute to rebuilding Syria and developing its capabilities in emergencies and disasters.