The Woman's Voice in Damascus — The Women's General First Aid Society

There was founded in Damascus, on December 1, 1942, by license from the Ministry of the Interior, a society called the Women's Red Crescent Society. Its purpose: to treat the wounded and the sick in time of war, to work for the improvement of health conditions in the Syrian lands, and to aid those upon whom public calamities have fallen, at whatever time. The society also has special committees, such as the health and educational committee, the social affairs committee, and the workshop.

The society has founding members, subscribing members, working members, and benefactresses.

It has an administrative board composed of: the president, the wife of the late Muhammad Ali Bey al-Abid; and the president, the wife of His Excellency Faris Bey al-Khoury; the vice-president, Mrs. Saniyya al-Ayyubi; and an advisory council composed of the lady mother of Farid Bey Zayn al-Din, the wife of His Excellency Jamil Bey Mardam Bey, Mrs. Suad Mardam Bey, and Mrs. Asma al-Azm; the secretary, Miss Fatima Diyab; the secretary for the English language, the wife of Mr. Farid Zayn al-Din; the recording clerk, Miss Falak Diyab; the treasurer, Mrs. Bahiyya Husayni; the accountant, Mrs. Thurayya al-Ayyubi; and the two auditors, Mrs. Wajiha al-Yusuf and the wife of the late Rida Bey Said. The society also has administrative members.

The society's work: The society's work began during the French aggression — that is, four months after the society's founding, on May 20, 1945 — and the members contributed the greatest possible share in the service of humanity: among other things, distributing food to the gendarmes and sewing for the volunteers. The members of the society likewise risked their lives under a hail of incendiary bombs and air raids to pick up the wounded from the alleys, administering first aid in the Crescent's motorcar, which had been prepared and equipped with all the necessary first-aid supplies, and carrying the sick to the Crescent's hospital, which was founded at the time for that purpose and equipped with all the necessary means.

And they strove constantly to bring cheer to the wounded and consolation to the sick by every possible means, to lighten the pains of the needy, the sick, and the stricken — until the situation calmed and the waters returned to their courses. Then we were taken by surprise by the founding of the Syrian Red Crescent Society — that is, six months after the founding of our society — and from that circumstance until today work has been suspended, owing to the confusion and instability that arose from the existence in one country of two societies bearing this name, which is contrary to the regulations and laws. And when they found that there was no way to an understanding, and that the time had come to work in this grave hour for the aid of stricken Palestine, they resolved to change the name of the Women's Red Crescent Society to the name of (the Women's General First Aid Society), which takes its place and in which the same rules in force are applied. We pray for success and support, that we may accomplish what our souls long for of work and sacrifice in the cause of lightening the pains of suffering humanity.