Syria’s White Helmets Are “Back To Work” No Nobel Prize

The White Helmets, also known as the Syrian Civil Defense, missed out on the Nobel Peace Prize this year, which went instead to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, in recognition of his efforts to bring about a peaceful end to his country’s decades-long civil war.

When the announcement was made, the group says its headquarters in the city of Hama were bombed, likely by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces, or the Russian air force.

Expectations among supporters around the world were high that the grassroots organization would win this year. The group has endured through countless bombings to save the lives of Syrians caught in relentless Russian and Syrian bombing campaigns for more than five years. But their followers were disappointed.

Shortly after the announcement in Oslo on Friday, the White Helmets congratulated Santos and tweeted they were “back to work” after their center in Hama was bombed this morning.