Syrian civil war: Video captures moment volunteers are caught in second explosion as they rescue children

The White Helmets, an unarmed group of volunteers, perform some of the most dangerous work in Syria

Douma has been under near-constant bombardment since 2012 (White Helmet)

Unarmed Syrian volunteers have been bombed as they attempted to rescue children from a building destroyed by an earlier explosion, new footage from the conflict claims to show.

The video, apparently recorded by the Syrian Civil Defence organisation, shows men running into the wreckage of a building in Douma and pulling children from the rubble.

As the men pass the children to safety, another explosion rocks the wreckage and the rescuers – known as the White Helmets – find themselves in need of help as the camera’s view is obscured by dust and falling masonry.

Warning: Some viewers may find this footage upsetting

#الدفاع_المدني_السوري || #ريف_دمشق || 2015/10/02 #شاهد لحظة سقوط صاروخ على فريق الإسعاف في الدفاع المدني لمدينة #دوما أثناء قيامهم بواجهم الإنساني في إسعاف جرحى الغارات الجوية , مما أدى لإصابة 4 عناصر بجروح طفيفة بفضل الله وهم بحالة جيدة الآنجابهوا الطائرات و صورايخها بشجاعتهم وإنسانيتهم فما كان من نظامٍ لا يعرف سوا القتل والإجرام إلا أن استهدف رجالاً نذروا حياتهم لنصرة أهلهم المظلومين

Posted by ‎الدفاع المدني السوري في ريف دمشق‎ on Friday, October 2, 2015

The Independent were unable to verify the footage and it remains unclear who launched either strike.

The White Helmets are an unarmed group of volunteers who operate in the centre of the deadly conflict, which has killed more than 200,000 since its outbreak four years ago.

Douma, once a suburb on the outskirts of Damascus to the south of the country, is now yet another flashpoint of violence in the battle waged by Syrian rebels against the government. The area has been held intermitted by Free Syrian Army (FSA) forces since 2012.

The footage emerged as the Russian department of defence said it had carried out another round of bombing across the north-west.

The Kremlin’s intervention has been criticised by officials in the US. They claim the Russian military’s use of force has targeted civilians and not exclusively Isis positions.

"We call on the Russian Federation to immediately cease its attacks on the Syrian opposition and civilians and to focus its efforts on fighting ISIL (IS)," the UK, US, France, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey said in a statement on Friday.