LOS ANGELES: Netflix documentary, The White Helmets, directed by Orlando Von Einsiedel won the Oscar on Sunday night for best documentary film short. The 40-minute documentary was about a group of volunteer rescue workers for the Syrian Civil Defence Force, also known as “The White Helmets,” who risked their lives to help civilians in the war-torn country. While receiving the Oscar, the director asked the audience to stand up and call for an end to Syria’s six-year civil war, which led to a standing ovation. Von Einsiedel read a message from The White Helmets Head Raed al- Saleh, which stated, “We’re so grateful that this film has highlighted our work to the world. … To save one life is to save humanity.” The statement continued, urging people to “work on the side of life, to stop the bloodshed in Syria and around the world”. “We have saved more than 82,000 Syrian lives. I invite anyone here who hears me to work on the side of life to stop the bloodshed in Syria and around the world,” the statement added. While the leader of The White Helmets group attended the Oscars, 21-year-old Syrian cinematographer Khaled Khatib, who worked on the documentary, was barred from entering the United States. The incident was the result of US President Donald Trump’s ban, which targeted seven Muslim-majority countries, including Syria.