Raed al-Saleh

Raed al-Saleh (Arabic: رائد الصالح) is a Syrian humanitarian leader and government official. On 29 March 2025, he was appointed as the Minister of Disaster Management and Emergency Response in the Syrian transitional government. Previously, al-Saleh was director of the White Helmets, a volunteer rescue organization operating in opposition-held areas of Syria. For this humanitarian work, he was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in 2017.

Raed al-Saleh
رائد الصالح
Al-Saleh in 2025
Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management
Incumbent
Assumed office 29 March 2025
President	Ahmed al-Sharaa
Preceded by	Position established
Director of the White Helmets
In office 2013 – 29 March 2025
Succeeded by	Mounir Mustafa (Acting)
Personal details
Born	1983 Jisr ash-Shughur, Idlib, Syria

Career

Al-Saleh has played a key role in leading the White Helmets, overseeing search and rescue operations, medical assistance, and disaster response efforts in war-torn regions of Syria. Under his leadership, the organization has been internationally recognized for its humanitarian work, receiving multiple awards, including the Right Livelihood Award and a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.^[1][2] In 2017, he was honoured as one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People.^[3]

On 29 March 2025, al-Saleh was appointed as the Minister for Disaster and Emergency Management in Syria, he issued a statement following the appointment announcing his resignation from the White Helmets.^[4]