Syria Civil Defence

What Syria Civil Defence does

Syria Civil Defence, internationally known as the White Helmets, is a Syrian-led humanitarian organization of approximately 3,000 volunteers operating in northwest Syria since 2013-2014. The organization delivers six core programs: Search & Rescue and Firefighting, Health (including primary consultations and reproductive health), Protection, Justice and Accountability, Infrastructure and Public Community Services, and War Remnants Management (UXO clearance via 6 dedicated centers and 12 clearance teams). It serves roughly 4.5 million people across 954+ villages, towns, and cities and 1,400+ camps, and reports having saved 128,326+ lives since founding while losing 308+ volunteers, more than half in targeted strikes.

Underlying capabilities are operational rather than technological: trained volunteer rapid-response teams, helmet-camera and photographic documentation systems, an Investigation Support and Casebuilding Unit (ISCU) that produces thematic war crimes reports, and specialized UXO disposal infrastructure. Documentation outputs include research on double-tap attacks against humanitarian workers and on Russian Krasnopol laser-guided weapons targeting civilians. The organization also leads an OCHA Protection Sector technical working group in northwest Syria and is a member of ICBL-CMC.

The business model is nonprofit humanitarian service delivery funded primarily through institutional government grants (Canada, Germany via GIZ, France, USA via USAID, UK, Denmark, Qatar Fund for Development, EU) and UN agency partnerships (notably UNDP for infrastructure rehabilitation), supplemented by individual donations. Operations are governed through four legally independent entities in the US (The White Helmets, Inc.), Netherlands (Stichting White Helmets Foundation), Turkey (Beyaz Baretliler Derneği), and Canada (Les Casques Blancs) that share human resources and financial assets. In June 2025, following the resignation of Director Raed Al-Saleh to become Syria's Minister of Emergency Situations, the organization announced its integration into the Syrian Government structure.

Name

Syria Civil Defence

Legal name

The White Helmets, Inc.

Website

https://whitehelmets.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Syria Civil Defence (White Helmets) is a Syrian-led humanitarian organization of approximately 3,000 volunteers delivering search and rescue, healthcare, UXO clearance, infrastructure rehabilitation, and war crimes documentation services to roughly 4.5 million conflict-affected civilians in northwest Syria.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian and Disaster Response Services

NAICS

International Affairs (92812), National Security (928110)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Civilian Protection & Stabilization Operations (BPADAFAF), Disarmament, Demobilization & Reintegration (DDR) Programs (BPADAFAD)

Keywords

• Humanitarian emergency response
• Search and rescue services
• Unexploded ordnance clearance
• Disaster response operations
• Community resilience programs

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Institutional Funding: The organization is funded primarily through government grants and institutional funding from international government donors. Government partners include Canada, Germany (GIZ), France (Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires Étrangères), USA (USAID), UK (UK Aid), Denmark (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and Qatar Fund for Development. Additional support comes from EU-funded programs. The organization operates across four separate legal entities in Turkey, Netherlands, Canada, and the US that share human resources and financial assets.
2. Individual Donations and Public Fundraising: Individual donors and supporters contribute to the organization. The website promotes donation options for the public to support the mission of saving lives and serving communities in Syria. The organization maintains mailing list subscriptions for public engagement.
3. UN Agency and Multilateral Funding: Partnership with UNDP for infrastructure projects (e.g., rehabilitation of the Rastan Bridge in Homs Governorate, funded by the Syria Humanitarian Fund/SHF). The organization receives funding through UN agencies for specific programmatic work.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Syria Civil Defence (White Helmets) is a Syrian-led humanitarian organization that delivers volunteer-run emergency response services to civilians affected by the Syrian conflict. Its work spans search and rescue from rubble after aerial attacks, firefighting, emergency and primary medical services, unexploded ordnance clearance, infrastructure rehabilitation, and documentation of attacks on civilians and humanitarian workers for international accountability. Programs are delivered free of charge to conflict-affected communities in northwest Syria.

Product overview

Syria Civil Defence (The White Helmets) is a Syrian-led humanitarian organization offering a portfolio of life-saving and community resilience programs rather than a commercial product. The organization operates six core programs: Search & Rescue and Firefighting (emergency response), Health (medical consultations and services), Protection (civilian safety), Justice and Accountability (war crimes documentation), Infrastructure and Public Community Services (reconstruction and essential services), and War Remnants Management (UXO clearance). These programs collectively serve communities affected by the Syrian conflict, providing emergency response, healthcare, infrastructure rehabilitation, and unexploded ordnance management to a population of 4.5 million people across northwestern Syria.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Search & Rescue and Firefighting Program
• Health Program
• Protection Program
• Justice and Accountability Program
• Infrastructure and Public Community Services Program
• War Remnants Management (UXO/ERW Clearance)

Quantifiable outcome

• 128,326+ lives saved since founding
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Syrian Ministry of Public Works and HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 2024Coordination partner for the rehabilitation and maintenance of the Rastan Bridge in Homs Governorate. Work is conducted in coordination with the ministry following Russian air strikes on the bridge in December 2024.
• UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for infrastructure rehabilitation projects including the Rastan Bridge in Homs Governorate. Funded through the Syria Humanitarian Fund (SHF). The agreement was signed in Damascus in April with Director General Munir Al-Mustafa and UN Assistant Secretary-General Abdullah Al-Dardari.
• ICBL-CMC (International Campaign to Ban Landmines – Cluster Munition Coalition)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe White Helmets is a member of the ICBL-CMC and participates in the annual report endorsed by the United Nations. Membership focuses on mine action operations targeting cluster munitions and identifying contaminated areas.
• OCHA (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) – Protection SectorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe White Helmets leads a technical working group established under the OCHA Protection Sector in northwest Syria, with periodic leadership shared between two organizations. Work began at the start of 2024.
• Syrian Civil Defense (SCD) / Syrian Democratic Forces CoordinationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNGO partners including SDI, CPD, Christian Aid, AFNS, GIJTR, Choose Love, The Syria Campaign, AVAAZ, and Cordaid listed as non-government partners supporting the organization's work.
• HGC (Humanitarian Gaza Coordination – Gaza)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as an agency partner alongside the European Union.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mines Advisory Group (MAG): International humanitarian organization clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance in conflict-affected countries. Directly comparable to the White Helmets' mine action and ERW clearance work in northwest Syria.
• The HALO Trust: World's largest humanitarian mine clearance organization, operating in post-conflict environments including Syria. Directly comparable to the White Helmets' War Remnants Management program and UXO clearance operations.
• Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS): US-based medical relief organization operating inside Syria, providing healthcare services, training, and emergency response in conflict-affected areas. Direct operational peer in the Syrian humanitarian space, with overlapping medical and emergency programming.
• Relief International: International humanitarian organization providing emergency relief, health, and economic recovery programs in conflict-affected countries, with a significant operational footprint in Syria. Direct operational peer in the Syrian humanitarian space.

Broad incumbents

• International Rescue Committee (IRC): Global humanitarian aid organization responding to the world's worst crises, with active programming in Syria. Comparable as a multi-program humanitarian delivery organization operating in the same conflict environment.
• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): Largest independent medical humanitarian organization, providing emergency medical care in conflict zones including Syria. Overlaps directly with the White Helmets' Health Program and emergency medical service delivery.
• Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC): Major displacement-focused humanitarian organization providing shelter, education, and emergency response in conflict zones. Comparable as a multi-program humanitarian actor with presence in Syria, though focused on displacement rather than SAR.
• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): The pre-eminent neutral humanitarian organization operating in conflict zones worldwide. Comparable as a multi-program, volunteer-driven emergency response and protection actor in Syria, though far larger, older, and globally mandated.

Others

• International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL): Coalition of organizations working to ban landmines and cluster munitions. The White Helmets is a formal member of ICBL-CMC and contributes to its annual UN-endorsed reporting, making ICBL a thematic and network-level peer.

Emerging players

• ShelterBox: International disaster relief organization providing emergency shelter and essential supplies to families displaced by conflict and disaster. Comparable as a community-driven emergency response actor serving displaced populations in conflict and post-disaster contexts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/whitehelmets
• Instagraminstagram.com/whitehelmets
• Xx.com/SyriaCivilDef
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-white-helmets

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Syria Civil Defence