CONTROVERSIAL civil defence group the White Helmets has been gifted almost £1 million to make personal protective equipment (PPE) by a British, US and Dutch government-funded organisation in Syria.

A report in the Guardian earlier this week revealed the large sum had been handed over by Humanitarian Grand Challenge (HGC), a non-profit human rights organisation.

The White Helmets, which has been accused of maintaining links with jihadist organisations, claims to have made two million masks and other forms of PPE to distribute among the population in areas held by al-Qaida associated gangs.

But sources speaking on condition of anonymity told the Morning Star today that none of the much-needed equipment has made its way to the largely Kurdish enclave known as Rojava. 

On January 5 there were 8,113 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the semi-autonomous region, with 276 deaths. More than 1,000 people have recovered but a recent spike in cases led to local officials imposing new restrictions, with large markets closing down.

There is a desperate shortage of PPE and other essential equipment with restrictions on its borders preventing NGOs from entering Rojava and material from reaching the overstretched health services.

The area is subjected to frequent attacks from Turkish drones and jets and large swathes are under occupation.