A Syrian White Helmets rescue centre was targeted on Friday morning in Syria even as the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, for which the civil rescue group was nominated, was taking place in Oslo, Norway.
Announcing the attacks on their social media page, the White Helmets, also known as the Syrian Civil Defence Force, said they were going “back to work” after its centre was targeted in Hama.
No details were given as to who exactly targeted the group’s rescue centre.
The rescue volunteer group also reported the death of one of its volunteers earlier today in Daraa.
Mahmoud Al Muhammad was killed responding to the bombing of civilians leaving Friday prayers, the group said on Twitter.
Announcing the decision in Oslo, the Nobel Peace Prize Committee awarded the prize to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, for his efforts in securing a historic peace deal to end 50 years of war with FARC rebels.
The Nobel committee praised Santos for his “resolute efforts to bring the country’s more than 50 year long civil war to an end”.
The rescue group congratulated Santos for winning the Nobel Peace Prize on social media, saying it “sincerely” wished the Colombian people peace.
The White Helmets were a popular nominee for the award with more than 300,000 people signing an online petition backing them to win the prize.
The group, which operates in rebel-held areas, is credited with saving thousands of civilians across Syria amid regular air and missile strikes by Syrian government and Russian forces.
[Source: Middle East Eye]
