Syria humanitarian crisis

From January to July 2020, 220,000 displaced people returned to areas around the M4 highway and west of the M5 highway. Since our last humanitarian update on Syria, an assessment found that shelters in 72 percent of communities in return areas were destroyed. Seventy-five percent of families are unable to secure essential food items and have insufficient access to water. The lack of shelter, and minimum food and water requirements, further increases the risk of COVID-19 transmission in areas with sub-optimal health care.  The ability to realise human rights in Syria continues to be negatively affected.

From 07 to 21 August, local sources reported incidents caused by improvised explosive devices, landmines and explosive remnants of war killed seven people including two children and injured 13 others including three children in southern Idlib and northern Aleppo.  In North West Syria, tensions increased in areas south of the M4 highway. On 1 September, clashes near the front line in western rural Aleppo erupted between the Syrian Government forces and various opposition groups, resulting in increased shelling by both sides.

The Syrian Democratic Forces vacated two schools in Deir Ezzor and handed them over to the educational bodies in the city on 02 September. This came after the announcement of the establishment of a civil complaints mechanism to stop and prevent the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict on 29 August, which is believed to be corresponding to a Memorandum was signed in this regard between the SDF and the UN on 29 June 2019.  Amid the spike in COVID-19 cases, the Education committee of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria postponed re-opening the academic year until 4 October.

International influences

After ten years of conflict in Syria, international influences continue to play an important force on humanitarian outcomes for civilians.  In North East Syria, emerging reports indicate that negotiations between the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) and the Syrian Government came to a halt after a series of incidents and events including the signing of an agreement by the AANES and a US energy firm to rehabilitate oil infrastructure in the region, in addition to increased tensions and stand-offs between Russian and Syrian Government forces, and US forces.

Syrians living in the opposition-held northwest Idlib province are switching currencies because the value of their Syrian Pound is decreasing so quickly.  In Northern Syria, the Syrian Pound is worth a quarter as much as it was at the start of 2020.  With the Turkish Lira being increasingly used in North West Syria, people without access to Turkish Lira are at risk of being excluded from markets or inflated prices if paying with Syrian Pounds.  With increasing challenges to cross border humanitarian assistance into Syria, communities are increasingly identifying the most effective ways to survive.

COVID impacts in Syria

In North West Syria, out of the 5,999 COVID-19 tests conducted so far, 89 cases tested positive. In North East Syria, there are 595 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 40 reported deaths as of 2 September.  The mortality rate in North East Syria stands at 6.7 percent (twice as much the global rate), while the transmission rate among health workers is 15 percent of all cases.Additionally, 61 cases have recovered and two deaths have been recorded. Six new cases confirmed in Idlib, three new cases in Aleppo and one new death recorded.

Face mask usage remains low with only 12 percent of focal points in North West Syria reporting that community members are wearing face masks. The lack of personal protective equipment remains a challenge for most healthcare workers in the area and availability of face masks for communities members remains limited.

In Areesha camp, a camp resident tested positive for COVID-19, and there are seven other suspected cases. Authorities extended the lock down in the camp until 08 September.  All NGO operations and humanitarian support also remaining suspended.

On 29 August, a second case of COVID-19 was discovered in Al Hol camp. The section, home to 3,942 people including 2,702 children was locked down by camp managers, further hindering the provision of essential humanitarian services including case management and child protection.