The White Helmets, a Syrian Civil Defense organization, joining the Ministry of Emergency and Disasters.

The Ministry of Emergencies and Disasters announced on Tuesday the inclusion of the Syrian Civil Defense organization "The White Helmets" in the ministry to unify efforts and enhance emergency and disaster response at the national level, in line with the aspirations of the Syrian people for justice and development. During the press conference held today with the presence of the Minister of Emergencies and Disasters Raed Al-Saleh, and the General Director of the Civil Defense Organization Munir Mustafa at the ministry building in Damascus, Minister Al-Saleh confirmed that the integration of the organization with the ministry aims to strengthen national emergency response, develop policies and legislation to align with the new situation, and take measures that consider safety standards for buildings, industrial, and commercial facilities. Minister Al-Saleh also stated that cooperation is ongoing with the Engineers Syndicate to develop security and safety codes based on international standards, and to plan cities in the reconstruction phase in accordance with these standards. He pointed out that the ongoing projects carried out by the Civil Defense will be completed, but any new project in the future will be implemented by the ministry, supported and funded by the Syrian government, as the gradual support provided by some countries to the Civil Defense will end. The minister revealed that the number of missing persons according to human rights organizations has reached 140,000, and there is a newly established body under a presidential decree that is responsible for this file. Regarding the possibility of increasing Civil Defense personnel in the future, the Minister of Emergencies explained that the current number of Civil Defense members is 3,750 with various specializations, and the ministry will work in the future to increase personnel according to needs that enhance security and safety. Al-Saleh explained that there is cooperation with various Arab and regional countries to provide training, enhance the ministry's capabilities, with the aim of creating a Syrian team capable of providing support and response to any emergency, under all circumstances. In a statement by the Civil Defense organization, its General Director said: "After deliberations and the legal authorization granted to its administrative body, a historic decision was made by the majority of its members to fully merge the organization within the Syrian government, transferring emergency response programs to the ministry, ensuring the unification of efforts and the development of emergency response at the national level within a governmental institutional framework." Mustafa also mentioned that the decision also includes transferring programs and work files of other organizations concerned with justice, accountability, and advocacy to ministries and other relevant bodies according to their specialization. Mustafa confirmed that all legal and administrative procedures related to the organization's merger will be implemented during a transitional period in accordance with the highest standards of professionalism, in compliance with Syrian and international laws and commitments, as specialized legal and technical committees have been formed to lead this transitional phase.