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Syria's White Helmets 'answering all calls' to save lives after quake

White Helmets, established in 2014, - known formally as Syria Civil Defence - won praise in the West for their daring operations to pick people from the rubble of buildings destroyed by Syrian government and Russian bombardment.

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Syrias White Helmets answering all calls to save lives after quake

Those allegations - which the group says are part of a disinformation campaign aimed at discrediting them - have led the White Helmets to set up a polished media operation drawing attention to the plight of those living in the region.

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Syrias White Helmets answering all calls to save lives after quake

"All of this made us put more effort into monitoring and following up and publishing (content)," Abdallah said at the Sarmada media center as a dozen people worked to download and publish images brought in from the field.

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Syrias White Helmets answering all calls to save lives after quake

Volunteers sifting through rubble in their brick-yellow vests and trademark white helmets are almost always accompanied by other members with cameras, he said.

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Syrias White Helmets answering all calls to save lives after quake

As rescue operations wind down, the group's work is shifting to the grim, demoralizing task of recovering the dead and clearing rubble.

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Syrias White Helmets answering all calls to save lives after quake

Abdelrahman, the White Helmet medic, said: "We will keep working until we remove the last person from under the rubble."