Jordan says it will transfer 800 Syria White Helmets to UK, Canada

Amman, July 22 

Jordan said today that it has taken in 800 Syrian White Helmets rescuers and their families from Israel and plans to transfer them to the United Kingdom, Canada and Germany.

“The Jordanian government said it had authorised the UN to organise the passage of 800 Syrian citizens through Jordan to be resettled in western countries,” the kingdom said. “The government gave the permission after Britain, Germany and Canada made a legally binding undertaking to resettle them within a specified period of time due to ‘a risk to their lives’,” it said in an English-language statement.

“These Syrian citizens who were working in the civil defence, had fled the areas controlled by the Syrian opposition after the Syrian army’s attack in those areas.” Founded in 2013, the Syria Civil Defence, or White Helmets, is a network of first responders who rescue wounded in the aftermath of air strikes, shelling or blasts in rebel-held territory. — AFP