Wassim joined the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) in 2004 when he was in the tenth grade. Being a volunteer hasn’t prevented him from pursing his studies; he graduated from Finance and Banking school.
Wassim participated in the response to the Lebanese war, the flood in Deir Azour, and the disaster management camp in Al- Seweida. He has also worked in the psycho-social support team, registering and distribution to Iraqi refugees. Wassim took part in first aid courses, and in safer access courses.
In 2008 he became a first aid trainer, and in 2010 followed a trainer of trainees (TOT) course in armed conflicts and safe access with the International Committee of the Red Cross.
” We have provided first aid services and transported injuries since the outbreak of this current crisis. I have participated in evacuating civilians from Baba Amr, Jourit Al Shayah, Al Hasswiya, Al Qusour, and the response to Al-Houla, Al Waer, and delivering relief items to the Old City of Homs”.
Wassim remembers one situation that has stayed with him:
“I was away from SARC center when the operations room received a call at night to say that a child was injured by a bullet. The house where the child was was dangerous. I came to the center and headed over with a first aid crew. The house was open to continuous sniper bullets. I told the crew to stay in the ambulance and went with the family of the injured child. I took off my first aid coat because of its reflective color that sparkles at night. We crossed the road running. The child was injured in his leg and couldn’t walk. I and his parents carried him from the balcony of their building to the next balcony and then over to the next one three times. Then we transported him in a pickup, the driver turned the lights off and drove fast till he got to the ambulance that transported the child to the hospital.
Wassim is now the leader of first aid crews since 2011, and the coordinator of SARC Homs first aid committee since 2013.
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