Film On Syria's White Helmets Wins Oscar

Film on Syria's White Helmets wins Oscar

BEIRUT, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Feb, 2017 ) - A film about Syria's White Helmets -- rescuers who risk their lives to help save civilians caught in the country's devastating war -- took home the Oscar for best documentary short on Sunday.

The Netflix-produced film, called simply "The White Helmets," was directed by Orlando von Einsiedel, and bested another short about the Syrian conflict, "Watani: My Homeland." But members of the group including the cinematographer who shot much of the footage, Khaled Khatib, were not allowed to enter the United States for the Oscars.

Group members said on Twitter that they had waited for three days at the airport but were not permitted to board a flight. The US Customs and Border Protection service said only that they did not have valid documents.

The ordeal comes as US President Donald Trump sharply curtails visas for Syrians as well as citizens of a number of other Muslim-majority countries. Raed Saleh, leader of the rescue group, also was not able to attend but said in a statement that the White Helmets had saved the lives of more than 82,000 civilians.

"I invite anyone here who hears me to work on the side of life, to stop the bloodshed in Syria and around the world," he said in a statement read by the director. "It's very easy for these guys to feel forgotten.

This war has been going on for six years. If everyone could just stand up and remind them that we all care, (then) this war ends as quickly as possible." Khatib tweeted: "While we follow the Oscars, the Syrian regime has launched chlorine gas attacks in Harasta, injuring civilians." The White Helmets emerged in 2013, working to rescue civilians in rebel-held areas during the nearly six-year war.

Before fighting broke out, the volunteers had everyday jobs -- bakers, painters and even students. Since 2013, the group says it has attracted more than 3,000 volunteers. It is named for the distinctive white hard hats worn by its volunteers and has gained international renown for its daring rescues, often filmed and circulated on social media.