Amman, July 15 (Petra) – Since its founding, Jordan has remained unwavering in extending aid to those in need around the world, guided by deep-rooted values and wise Hashemite leadership.

When wildfires engulfed the forests of Latakia, the Syrian coastal city, Jordanian Civil Defense teams swiftly responded by land and air. Their mission went beyond extinguishing flames it was a heartfelt effort to ease the suffering of the Syrian people.

Strategic and military expert Bashir Da’jah told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that the fires in Latakia and Tartus were not merely environmental disasters but cries for help that resonated deeply in Jordan. “When a neighbor’s house burns, Jordan does not shut its door it opens its heart,” he said.

He emphasized the speed and decisiveness of the response. There was no time for statements or calculations; royal directives were issued immediately, prompting Jordanian Civil Defense and Air Force personnel to race across the border in solidarity with their Syrian counterparts.

Jordanian firetrucks crossed the northern border equipped with advanced tools and a profound sense of humanity. According to Da’jah, the Jordanian firefighters were not carrying out routine duties they were putting out flames that scorched the body of a shared Arab nation. “The Jordanian hoses watered Syria’s soil with support, not just water. It was as though the spark had struck them personally.”

He described the Civil Defense mission as more than an emergency operation it was a living message: “We will not stand idly by as the fire rages around us.”

Jordan’s Global Humanitarian Footprint
Da’jah stressed that Jordan, though small in resources, is mighty in values. It never hesitates to extend a hand where needed. “The dignity of a nation,” he said, “is not measured by the size of its economy but by the size of its heart.”

In every crisis zone across the globe, a Jordanian fingerprint is found be it from a military doctor, a peacekeeping officer, or a relief team. More than 100,000 members of the Jordan Armed Forces have served in UN peacekeeping missions not merely as soldiers but as carriers of compassion. In Haiti, they offered aid after the earthquake; in Kosovo, they stood with children threatened by displacement; and in Darfur, they raised the Jordanian flag as a beacon of life in villages plagued by hunger and fear.

Jordan’s contributions extend beyond military roles. The kingdom was among the first to establish field hospitals in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, and Libya. These hospitals were not just white tents they were sanctuaries of dignity, where children were born, mothers treated, and the brows of injured elders gently wiped.

When earthquakes struck Turkiye and Syria, Jordanians did not ask “Where?” they asked, “When do we arrive?” Relief convoys carried blankets, tents, and medicine alongside a powerful message: “We are with you not rich in what we own, but in how we care.”

Giving Is a Way of Life
Da’jah noted that generosity in Jordan is not seasonal but a way of life. The kingdom has long been a safe haven for the vulnerable, treating refugee influxes not as burdens but as moral obligations. For decades, refugee camps on Jordanian soil have offered not just food, but education, healthcare, and dignity.

Even in the absence of media spotlights, Jordanian aid has reached Sudan during floods, remained active in Gaza despite siege and war, and was among the first to arrive in Lebanon after the Beirut port explosion. During the COVID-19 pandemic, while borders were closing worldwide, Jordan sent medical aid to Tunisia, respiratory supplies to India, and medications to Syria and Yemen. The message remained clear: “We are not rich, but we are rich in giving.”

These are hands that do not knock on doors to ask but to say, “We are here. Don’t be afraid.”

Da’jah said that in an age when the voice of conscience is often drowned by the noise of self-interest, Jordan stands firm as a beacon of sincerity and resolve. It never uses aid as leverage, nor does it attach strings to its assistance. It raises its children on the belief that humanity binds us, neighbors must never be left alone, and helping others is not charity but honor. “This,” he said, “is Jordan. When the world falls silent, it speaks. When others falter, it stands tall. When humanity is tested, Jordan proves itself in the front lines.”

Legal and Institutional Commitment to Humanitarianism
Hisham Kasasbeh, professor of administrative and constitutional law at Al-Zaytoonah University, told Petra that the efforts of Jordanian Civil Defense in Syria reflect an ongoing engagement with Arab causes and international humanitarian obligations.

He said these actions align with both international conventions and national legislation. Article 18(A) of the 1990 Jordan Civil Defense Law states that all civil defense personnel are on-call to serve anytime, domestically or abroad. Article 18(B) considers anyone who dies in the line of duty a martyr under the Military Retirement Law.

On the international front, while there is no specific convention solely for firefighters, multiple global standards and principles such as those issued by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and protections granted under the Geneva Conventions provide a framework for safeguarding civil defense personnel.

Kasasbeh noted that Jordan’s intervention in Syria is consistent with the spirit of International Firefighters’ Day, observed on May 4 each year. For Jordanian Civil Defense, he said, this is more than a commemoration it is real action on the ground, a reflection of professionalism and integrity, and a continuation of ethical values supported by Jordan’s leadership.

//Petra// AF
15/07/2025 21:21:53