Who are the White Helmets and what do they do in Syria?
WHITE Helmets founder James Le Mesurier has died just days after Russian officials accused him of being a spy.
But what does the organisation stand for and what do its members do in Syria?
Who are the White Helmets?
The White Helmets is a volunteer organisation that operates in parts of opposition-controlled Syria and in Turkey.
It was founded in 2014 at the height of the Syrian Civil War, with Mayday Rescue having played a central role in training and organisation.
The organisation was founded by former British army officer and aid worker James Le Mesurier.
The group works in areas vulnerable to conflict or natural disaster, helping communities strength their ability to respond to emergencies.
Its largest programme is in Syria, where it provides organisation and training for the network of volunteer rescuers known as the White Helmets.
The programme now operates throughout the Middle East from offices in Turkey and Jordan.
What do they do in Syria?
The group's activities in Syria consist of:
- medical evacuation
- urban search and rescue in response to bombing
- evacuation of civilians from danger areas
- essential service delivery.
The organisation said it had saved over 115,000 lives, with 204 White Helmet volunteers losing their lives in the process.
They assert impartiality in the Syrian conflict, though only operate in rebel-held areas.
The group works throughout war-torn areas of the country, carrying out medical evacuation, urban search and rescue after bombings, civilian evacuation, and other essential and emergency service delivery.
The group has been targeted in a misinformation campaign by Russian and President Assad supporters, and accused of having links with terrorist organisations and staging their rescue missions, according to investigations by various journalists.
What happened to James Le Mesurier?
Le Mesurier was found dead near his apartment in central Istanbul at around 4.30am on Monday 11 November.
Local media reported he had suffered fractures to his head and legs, apparently after jumping or falling from the window of his home office.
The office of the governor of Istanbul has announced a "wide ranging administrative and judicial investigation" into the death.
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A security source told that the death was being treated as a suicide, but concerns have been raised elsewhere about the circumstances surrounding it.
Reacting to news of Le Mesurier's death, the White Helmets' official Twitter account tweeted: "The Syrian Civil Defense family extends its deepest condolences to the James family, and we express our deepest sorrow and solidarity with his family.
"As we also must commend his humanitarian efforts which Syrians will always remember."
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