nlp-thedeep/humsetbias huggingface dataset:
With 3.5 million people in Syria reliant on food assistance, WFP alone has 1,600 distribution points within Syria; work is ongoing with SARC to adapt modalities in order to decongest distribution sites.
In Syria, Sayeda Zainab, rural Damascus, an area which was locked down for about a month due to COVID 19, refugee needs remain high.
The Logistics Cluster is monitoring UN agency supply routes into Syria and working closely with the Global Logistics Cluster to quickly identify bottlenecks in supply into Syria of humanitarian assistance.
Further, the Logistics Cluster continues to facilitate access to free to user warehousing around Syria and is in fortnightly consultations with partners.
Meanwhile, most UNHCR partners in Syria resumed 30 per cent of their regular activities in community centres and started delivering limited protection services.
Due to difficulties in addressing basic needs, households are at risk of adopting negative coping mechanisms, which often disproportionally affect children.
The COVID 19 outbreak has contributed to an acute shortage of essential supplies, including PPE, medical equipment and certain medicines.
Increases in gender based violence  ( GBV )  and child rights violations have also been reported by partners.
Local supply chains in NES have been affected by disruption to cross border commercial activity and the current economic crisis, while NES partners also face restrictions on procuring items in KRI for export.
Moreover, partners are concerned that persons with disabilities, particularly women and girls, are at an increased risk of experiencing violence, abuse and neglect.
Inside Syria, more than 11 million people are in need of aid and protection.
The impact of COVID 19 on host communities and refugees featured through the Conference, compounding the existing economic downturn and further exacerbating protection risks for the most vulnerable.
Of the 4.1 million people living in north west Syria, 2.7 million people are estimated to be internally displaced.
As of 15 July, eight COVID 19 cases have been confirmed in north west Syria, with humanitarian and health partners continuing efforts to mitigate against the spread of the pandemic.
As of 20 July, 522 laboratory confirmed cases have been reported by the Ministry of Health and 25 fatalities.
As of 12 July, more than 2,500 samples had been tested for COVID 19.
Contact tracing has been activated, and people who have been in contact with the individuals have been advised to self isolate and be alert to potential symptoms. Persons exhibiting symptoms are being tested for COVID 19.
As of end June, UNHCR had reached its target of 90,000 NFI kits to be sent across the border to Syria  ( trans shipped ) . In addition, 37,360 tents  ( 93% of the 40,000 target )  have been trans shipped so far.
With the confirmation of the first positive cases of COVID 19 in north west Syria, UNHCR has requested all its partners to prioritize online awareness raising messages on COVID 19 and mitigation measures
With the UN Security Council Resolution on 11 June authorizing cross  border operations extended for one year through the Bab Al Hawa border crossing, UNHCR is adjusting its provision of humanitarian assistance accordingly.
Since the start of the COVID 19 crisis, more than 43,300 medical consultations have been provided.
As of 16 August, the Self Administration  ( SA )  have confirmed 205 cases of COVID 19 in NES  ( i.e. areas under SDF control, including Tall Refaat/ Shafha ) . Of these, 166 cases are currently considered active, 25 have recovered and there have been 14 fatalities.
The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2533 on 11 July, which authorises UN cross border assistance through Bab Al Hawa only for 12 months. As a result, the UN can no longer utilise the Bab Al Salam border crossing.
During the first half of the year, UNICEF reached over 250,000 children  ( 51 per cent girls )  with formal educational support across all fourteen governorates only 14 per cent of the annual target, as schools were closed in March as part of the COVID 19 preventive measures and education activities were also heavily impacted by price volatility and increased cost of supplies and construction materials.
Some 2.7 million IDPs are living in north west Syria, with more than 26,000 IDPs newly displaced in July 2020.
On 20 April, NGOs opened a first phase  ( 60 beds )  of a 120 bed hospital in are purposed factory building outside Al Hasakeh
Moreover, 51 professional trainings on COVID 19 were conducted, 72,807 persons of concern beneﬁted from community led initiatives.
Commercial and humanitarian operations were present at 21 and 10 transit points respectively. Individuals traveling for economic purposes were also present at 8 transit points.
Although the majority of confirmed cases in NES have continued to be concentrated in Hassakeh and Qamishli Districts  ( i.e. particularly Hassakeh and Qamishli cities, the two biggest urban centres in Hassakeh Governorate ) , there are particular concerns around the situation in Raqqa and Kobane due to combination of factors including: the high risk of significant undetected transmission due to under testing  ( and related challenges in deploying Rapid Response Team and Contact Tracing capacity ) , local coordination challenges, limited lockdown implementation/ adherence and reports of significant transmission among healthcare workers and at key health facilities
The proportion of subdistricts with no communities enforcing mask usage is highest in SDF controlled areas, where 98 per cent of communities do not implement this measure. This is followed by NSAG & TBAF controlled areas and the Government of Syria  ( GoS )  controlled areas, where 88 per cent and 84 per cent of communities do not implement this measure.
There has been little change in the camp population in recent months, largely due to authorities and departures from the camp as part of COVID 19 precautionary measures implemented in late March.
In southern Syria, Rukban camp has not been reached by a humanitarian convoy since September 2019. Informal commercial supply routes from Damascus and Dhumer were closed off in February, further disrupting the delivery of food, fuel and medical supplies into the camp.
To date, 28,640 items of personal protective equipment and six thermal screening devices  ( four for the main gate, two for the Annex )  have been delivered and more than 100 personnel, health workers and community leaders trained in thermal screening, case management  ( resuscitation and ventilation management ) , and community engagement and mobilization.
As response to the COVID 19 emergency, 75 collective shelter units were installed to support 375 individuals, and 47 collective shelters are under technical assessment in Hama.
One CCTC and one isolation hospital have been provided with PPE and IPC materials for one month. Also PoEs have been received a two week supply of PPE. Under the COVID 19 taskforce, a survey was developed to track the gaps in PPE and IPC materials.
Since early July, there have been 30 notified COVID 19 cases in Northwest Syria, where according to HNAP baseline figures there are over 2.5 million IDPs in communities under the control of non state armed groups and Turkish backed armed forces  ( NSAG & TBAF ) .
BaS previously allowed UN agencies to access a population of approximately 1.3 million people including at least 800,000 IDPs in northern Aleppo, the UN reports.
Displaced populations and returnees, particularly in Northeast and Northwest Syria, are vulnerable to outbreaks of infectious diseases, including COVID 19, due to unsanitary living conditions, overstretched health services and low coverage of routine immunization.
Further, USAID/BHA is supporting UNICEF and four NGOs to bolster COVID  19 response capacity in Syria by increasing water trucking frequency to provide additional water for handwashing and cleaning and distributing additional soap and other WASH commodities to beneficiaries.
Longer term needs are increasing, particularly in health, nutrition and education services, even as urgent needs for shelter, food, water, sanitation, hygiene and protection persist .
Self organized returns of refugees from neighboring countries stopped as of 23 March when the Government of Syria closed its borders.
More recently these returns were resumed, UNHCR together with its national partners is supporting these returnees and have assessed their needs at the border and at the quarantine center in Damascus.
Since the beginning of the year, to strengthen the quality of learning, 632 teachers were trained in various technical areas such as active learning and child centred and protective pedagogy  ( only 1 per cent of the target, due to the suspension of training as a preventive measures for COVID 19 )
In response to water shortages, humanitarian agencies were providing daily water trucking deliveries to approximately 170,000 people in Al Hasakah governorate as of late August, the UN reports. The unreliable water supply in northeast Syria increases the risk of COVID  19 transmission, as additional water is needed for COVID 19 mitigation measures such as more frequent cleaning and handwashing.
Additionally, USAID/BHA is supporting UNICEF and three NGOs to bolster COVID 19 health response capacity in Syria by establishing primary health care services in areas with limited health infrastructure, providing equipment to intensive care units and isolation facilities, and assisting effective infection prevention and control practices.
A total of 159 hospitals and primary health centres  ( PHC )  have been equipped with COVID  19 triage systems, and four community based treatment centres  ( CCTC )  have been operationalized to treat patients with mild to moderate cases of COVID 19.
On 11 July, the GoS announced new entry requirements from Lebanon to Syria, enabling Syrian citizens abroad to enter after providing proof of testing negative for COVID 19 using PCR at the border. Around 2,000 Syrian nationals have reportedly returned in recent weeks, mainly through the Maasna border crossing point.
The humanitarian situation remains critical as COVID 19 mitigation measures further contributed to a negative economic impact on the most vulnerable population as a driver for unemployment.
UNICEF also continued the humanitarian emergency response as a top priority for 1.5 million IDPs in 67 locations including, camps, collective shelters and host communities in Al Hasakeh, Dar'a, Idleb, Homs and Aleppo governorates through the distribution of family hygiene kits, women sanitary napkins, baby diapers, water purification tabs, jerry cans, water tanks, soap bars  ( 92 per cent of the target ) .
The temporary closure of trans shipment points between Turkey and Syria in March and inaccessibility to affected lifesaving supplies and services were among the key WASH challenges in the Northwest.
In 2020, UNICEF reached almost 7,000 children with disabilities with cash assistance and case management services  ( 58 per cent of the annual target ) .
As of September 10, the Self Administration of Northeast Syria had confirmed 783 cases in northeast Syria's Aleppo, Dayr az Zawr, Al Hasakah, and Ar Ra qqah governorates, including 42 deaths.
During the reporting period educational materials providing guidance on Safe Eid al Adha practices was disseminated in both English and Arabic to the MoH, MoE, MoI, SARC and other health partners, while the #WearAMask challenge – Wear and Share  ( your photos! )  was promoted through media platforms to increase uptake among the public by showing photosof friends, family and colleagues wearing masks. WHO also continues to provide technical support for the MoH COVID 19 Dynamic Infographic Dashboard for Syria, in Arabic and English.
In addition to support detailed in previous reports, WHO also continues to provide technical support for the MoH COVID 19 Dynamic Infographic Dashboard for Syria, in Arabic and English.
Health agencies also continue to respond to potential transmission in Al Hasakah's Al Hol camp, where several medical staff and one camp resident had tested positive for COVID 19 as of early September. The camp hosts nearly 65,000 people, more than 50 percent of whom are children younger than 12 years of age.
During August, health actors recorded a more than threefold increase in confirmed COVID  19 cases across Syria, rising to more than 4,300 cases countrywide as of September 11. Health actors continue to report that the majority of cases are in Syrian Arab Republic Government  ( SARG )   held areas, where the SARG Ministry of Health  ( MoH )  has confirmed 3,351 cases including 143 resultant deaths as of September 9. Damascus, Latakia, Rif Damascus, and SARG held areas of Aleppo governorates are among the most affected, although the MoH has reported cases widely across SARG  held territory.
In 2020, UNICEF replaced its e voucher programme with an unconditional cash transfer to support vulnerable families during a time of increased economic hardship and cost of living. The programme is currently implemented in Aleppo, Lattakia and Rural Damascus. During the first half of 2020, UNICEF reached over 50,000 children with cash assistance  ( 51 per cent of the target ) .
To ensure that children continued to access learning and recreational materials during COVID 19, over 46,000 children  ( 50 per cent girls )  benefitted from non formal educational supplies.
Curfews were extended several times throughout May, including the closure of cafes, cafeterias, schools and universities.
Across all 434 assessed locations, schools were reportedly not in sessions over the month prior to data collection due to COVID 19 related restrictive measures put in place by local authorities.
As a part of UNHCR's COVID 19 response in Syria, as of 15 July 2020, 121,355 individuals were reached through 860 different virtual groups, 134,923 persons of concern were reached through outreach volunteers and 87,120 persons of concern were reached by UNHCR mass communication campaigns.
In addition, 191,642 examination gloves, 86,774 surgical masks and 6,591 alcohol hand rub gel sanitizers were distributed in community centres, distribution points, emergency team, health facilities, and to outreach volunteers.
As outlined previously, UNDP is supporting rehabilitation at three hospitals. One partner has completed light rehabilitation of WASH systems at isolation centres in Dar'a and Deir Ez Zor.
Moreover, WHO shared with the MOH, MOI, MOE and other health partners the Arabic version of the educational materials of the Safe Eid al Adha practices in the context of COVID 19 to be widely disseminated before and during the Eid period.
In NWS  ( as of 24 July ) , WHO has strengthened measures at seven PoEs through its implementing partners, by increasing human resources, deploying a vehicle for referrals and providing equipment and supplies, including PPE.
As part of decentralized sample collection, staff from three COVID 19 designated hospitals  ( Al Zerat Hospital, Al Shams and Kefartor Karim hospital )  were trained by EWARN team on sample collection, handling and shipment methods.
WHO supported a further four workshops on IPC measures in Damascus, with 100 healthcare workers trained on triage, IPC/PPE measures and case management for SARI cases when COVID 19 is suspected.
In addition, WHO further supported one day workshops on triage, IPC/PPE, case definition and referral pathways at 226 primary health care centres in 13 governorates, and a further 50 healthcare providers at isolation hospitals on IPC and waste management.
WHO, in coordination with the International Organization for Migration  ( IOM )  and the WHO implementing partners agreed to reassess the triage system in health facilities, particularly those located in red zone western areas of rural Aleppo, Dana, and Idleb districts.
At the central level, the MoH has announced 23 isolation centres are currently running, with a cumulative capacity of 1,018 beds, including 841 isolation beds, 177 ICU beds, and 149 ventilators.
An estimated 18,000 people were directly affected with disruption of shelter activities due to the restrictions measures put in place to mitigate risks from COVID 19.
To mitigate the restrictions and financial hardship caused by COVID 19 response, UNHCR continued transferring MPCG upfront to cover two months  ( May and June )  to eligible families who have their ATM cards in custody.
At the community level, Atma, Idleb, Dana and Deir Hassan towns in Idleb governorate, Atareb town in Aleppo received around 1 thousand IDP movements each while Ariha, Zardana Mashehad and Abzemo towns in Idleb and Aleppo governorates received around 800 IDP movements each. IDP movements in areas other than northwest Syria remained very low.
Additionally, some IDP families moved from areas close to the frontlines such as the Ariha sub district in Idleb governorate At the sub district level, Dana sub district in Idleb governorate and Atareb sub  district in Aleppo governorate received around 8 and 7 thousand IDP movements respectively while Maaret Tamsrin sub district in Idleb governorate received about 6 thousand IDP movements.
Over the month of June, 31,071 IDPs were reported to have arrived to NSAG & TBAF controlled areas their highest priorities were livelihoods, basic services and food. Extremely difficult living conditions across this region are exacerbated by the recent COVID 19 outbreak.
Child labour was selected by KIs as a protection risk in 82% of the assessed communities in Deir  ez Zor governorate. This is of particular concern in a context of school closures due to COVID 19 restrictive measures.
Infection prevention and control measures have also been enhanced, including rehabilitation of WASH facilities, and disinfection of communal kitchens, latrines and showers.
Return movements in SDF controlled areas have continued to increase since the, albeit temporary, reopening of internal and international transit points. While many returns remain concentrated to Hajin and Tal Tamer sub districts  located on the Iraq border  only 17 percent returned from abroad, the majority  ( 86 percent )  of which returned from Iraq.
Since WHO ofﬁcially declared COVID 19 a global pandemic on 11 March, humanitarian actors have implemented a wide range of activities at the camp aimed at reducing the risks of transmission.
As of 2 July, the Syrian Ministry of Health  ( MoH )  confirmed 312 people tested positive with COVID 19
Of the total cases, 99 cases were announced as imported, including recently repatriated Syrian nationals, students from Lebanon who had come to Syria to sit national exams, as well as a cross border truck driver.
Of the nine fatalities in Government of Syria  ( GoS )  controlled areas, six were in Damascus; one was in Rural Damascus; one was in Qunietra; and one was in Aleppo.
The control measures in place to curb the spread of COVID 19 were loosened in May. There is a high risk that this could result in an increase in COVID 19 cases, leading to tighter restrictions being imposed from July 2020 until the epidemic curve flattens  ( estimated to be around October 2020 ) .
As of 25 June, the MoH reported 8,041 tests were conducted by the Central Public Health Laboratory  ( CPHL )  in Damascus and the public health laboratories in Aleppo, Lattakia and Homs.
The Ministry of Health  ( MoH )  reported 608 COVID 19 conﬁrmed cases as of 24 July with 35 fatalities and 184 recovered. 44 of the total cases are reported to be healthcare workers.
The increase in COVID 19 cases in Government of Syria  ( GoS )  areas has overwhelmed the capacity of local hospitals.
To date, there has been one confirmed cluster of COVID 19 cases, centred on the Al Amran neighbourhood of Al Hasakeh.
Despite the limited number of cases in NES, the risk of large scale transmission continues to remain high.
WV provides water trucking support and hygiene kit distribution to 43,260 people in northern Syria, in addition to lifesaving emergency WASH assistance.
The ongoing economic crisis has exacerbated humanitarian needs of the more than 11 million people across Syria in need.
Many Syrians report they are forced to borrow money to meet basic needs and eating less
Those who are displaced are facing a protection and poverty crisis, exacerbated by COVID  19.
Millions of displaced have lost their livelihoods, are taking on debt and are increasingly unable to meet their basic needs due to the regional economic crisis and the impact of COVID 19.
There is increased risk of child labour, gender based violence, early marriage and other forms of exploitation.
While humanitarian actors have adapted their activities and procedures to mitigate COVID 19 related risks, certain activities had to be suspended to protect the affected population, as well as humanitarian workers.
electronic voucher programme supported by WFP and UNICEF to help vulnerable children and their families in Aleppo cope with the financial burdens compounded by COVID 19 restrictions and inflation and protect themselves against the spread of coronavirus.
Markets, restaurants, cafes, gyms, most public places as well as worship places are also allowed to open, so long as physical distancing is observed.
As of 25 June, approximately 2,985 students had crossed into GoS controlled areas to sit their final high school exams and are being accommodated in 23 centres located in Aleppo  ( 1,020 ) , Ar Raqqa  ( 1,621 ) , Hama  ( 205 ) , Deir Ez Zor  ( 35 ) , Damascus and Rural Damascus governorates  ( 104 ) .
The increased threat of COVID 19 contagion has significantly limited the provision of basic services and education.
Meanwhile, UNRWA continued to deliver basic services and humanitarian assistance to Palestine refugees during the month of May, while navigating ongoing preventative measures in place by the authorities in response to the COVID 19 crisis. The Agency had to adjust its operations and programme modalities to mitigate the risks of exposure and spread of the virus for staﬀ and beneficiaries.
Bab Al Hawa  ( BAH )  and Bab Al Salam  ( BAS )  crossings remain partially closed, while facilitating measures have been granted for humanitarian supplies since the start of the health crisis.
On 1 May 2020, the UNRWA Al Shajara School in Homs Palestine refugee camp was hit by shrapnel from an explosion nearby outside the camp, causing damage to the roof of at least one of its classrooms. The school was empty at the time of the incident, as are all 103 UNRWA schools across Syria, due to measures taken to prevent the spread of COVID 19. UNRWA subsequently repaired the same. The right to education, which includes integrity of and access to school buildings, should be protected at all times.
Nine years of crisis has stretched livelihoods and services to the breaking point, especially in underserved and overburdened communities.
UNRWA PSS counsellors are providing advices to teachers, students and parents via phone, instant messaging platforms, and email. Support of professional psychosocial counsellors continues to be available remotely to all area staﬀ. Fifteen counsellors are available to provide support. A total of 87 staﬀ members  ( 18 male; 69 female )  accessed this service since it was made available.
A substantial number of sentinel sites remain closed due to curfews, attacks, insecurity and various other constraints.
COVID 19 and economic deterioration compound existing humanitarian needs across all sectors in all parts of northwest Syria.
138 people have tested positive for COVID  19 in northwest Syria as of 8 September.
According to HNAP, since 6 June some 5,700 people have travelled into NES via entry points in Raqqa.
Response efforts focus on contact tracing, containing the spread of the virus and raising awareness about COVID 19 risks and precautions.
The humanitarian situation remains dire as the additional strains related to the COVID 19 pandemic and the economic downturn in Syria continue to impact the 4.1 million people living in northwest Syria. Nearly a decade of conflict marked by multiple displacements, economic shocks, military operations and violence is continuously eroding the resilience of the population. An estimated 2.8 million people rely on humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs such as shelter, food, water and health.
Since the confirmation of the first positive case on 9 July, two deaths associated with COVID 19 were reported while 81 patients have reportedly recovered.
Of the 55 active cases, 32 cases are in Aleppo governorate's Afrin, Al Bab, Jarablus and Jebel Saman districts, while 23 cases are in Idleb governorate's Idleb, Ariha and Harim districts.
As of 8 September, seven isolation hospitals and 11 isolation treatment centres for primary care level management  ( called COVID 19 Community Treatment Centres, or CCTCs )  were active in northwest Syria.
Two PCR machines were delivered this week, one to a laboratory in Afrin city in northern Aleppo governorate, and another to the existing laboratory in Idleb city to complement the existing testing capacity.
Further transmission risk mitigation measures implemented include limits on movements, markets, gatherings and commercial activities.
At the end of August,16 million pieces of personal protective equipment  ( PPE )  including masks, face shields, gloves and aprons were provided for the use of humanitarian staff working on the ground.
Families in 75 percent of assessed communities reportedly cannot afford essential food items, and half have insufficient access to water. In the context of the COVID 19 outbreak, these conditions increase the risk of transmission among this highly vulnerable population.
As of 20 August, the 2020 Syria Humanitarian Response Plan remains underfunded with only 38.6 per cent of the total requirement received halfway through the year, similar to the level reported earlier in August. Further funding is urgently needed.
Out of the seven PoEs, five are cross border  ( Alhamam, Bab Alsalameh, Bab Alhawa, Ar ra'ee, and Jarablus )  while the other two are cross line  ( Ghazawiyet and Deir Ballut ) .
Most of the IDP families hosted in five functioning Reception Centers  ( RCs )  have been there for several months already, with no resettlement possibilities mainly due to lack of adequate shelter options and linkages with economic reasons. Facilitating the relocation of IDPs from overcrowded RCs to sites where physical distancing and hygiene practices are more feasible is therefore a main priority.
The most important household barrier to employment or diversifying income was a lack of employment opportunities, as reported by 79% of households, followed by a lack of financing  ( 66% ) , and lack of skills  ( 48% ) . COVID 19 is not a significant barrier for 3% of households while security situation is a barrier to employment for 20% of the households.
According to a survey by a UN partner, income loss, price increases, loss of humanitarian assistance and forced business closures were communities' main concerns about the economic impact of COVID 19 in northwest Syria.
o Restoration of essential services and basic infrastructure to prioritize activities that would support the preventive and curative health response to COVID 19 in close coordination with other sectors and local governance structure.
Severe currency fluctuation of the Syrian pound further compounds vulnerabilities as access to basic needs and services is increasingly challenging. This also makes efforts, as part of the COVID 19 response, to limit movements in and out of IDP sites challenging.
1,711 persons were employed through the creation of short term work opportunities, in light rehabilitation works of agricultural roads, or in mask manufacturing for personal protective equipment due to COVID 19
Closures of schools due to COVID 19 compound the problem. Schools had been closed since 14 March in the Idleb area and since 16 March in northern Aleppo governorate and reopened temporarily. However, after the first confirmed case of COVID 19 being identified in northwest Syria on 9 July, schools have been closed again from 10 July. Learning has switched to the distance learning modality once more.
Education authorities in Idleb had announced that they are planning to reopen schools in the last week of September.
Health workers said that testing, oxygen, and basic medical care are available only to those who can afford it
HNAP's most recent COVID 19 rapid assessment, collecting data over 27 and 28 July, found that the majority of the population is in need of soap and water in 53 per cent of sub districts across NSAG & TBAF regions, masks in 63 per cent of sub districts, and disinfectant in 79 per cent.
25,529 students, teachers and parents sensitized on prevention of COVID 19.
25,000 masks provided for student exams in Idleb and Aleppo countryside.
As of 16 August, there have been no confirmed case of COVID 19 among Al Hole residents, although there have been five confirmed cases among health staff working at the camp  ( as well as in other facilities outside the camp ) . During the last week, 24 suspect cases were identified in the camp. As of 16 August, all had reportedly been tested and returned negative results.
Despite the negative test results, there remain significant concerns around the situation in Al Hole camp in relation to COVID 19 preparedness and readiness. Key challenges include the security situation in the camp, the related lack of community acceptance  ( and refusal of residents to relocate to the isolation space should they develop symptoms )  and the readiness of the isolation space itself
30% of population do not have access to internet/smartphones impacting children access to distance learning.
As reported last week, there continues to be widespread transmission of COVID 19 among healthcare workers and at healthcare facilities, with approximately 1 in 4 of all confirmed cases a health worker  ( 46 in total ) . Clusters of transmission have been identified at the three main hospitals in Hassakeh city  Hassakeh National Hospital  ( HNH ) , Hassakeh Military Hosptial  ( HMH )  and Al Hikma Hospital.
On 16 August, the SA issued a new directive announcing that face coverings would become mandatory in ‘all public places, including markets and SA buildings/ facilities, with anyone found to violate this measure subject to a 1,000 SYP fine.
Given the scale of community transmission in NES, face coverings alone are not sufficient to suppress the virus, with more aggressive lockdown measures also considered critical complements to proven public health measures of “Trace, Test, Treat'.
For instance, in Raqqa, the local authorities have permitted restaurants to stay open for both dine in and takeaways services, while mass gatherings, including a funeral for a COVID 19 victim from Raqqa city, continue to go ahead.
The number of confirmed COVID 19 cases in NES has increased by 103% between the 9 August and 15 August, up from 101  ( 86 active cases, 10 recoveries and 5 fatalities )  to 205 confirmed cases  ( 166 active cases, 25 recoveries and 14 fatalities )  in this. The biggest increase in cases has been seen in Qamishli district, where the total number of confirmed cases has increased from 30 to 75  ( 150% increase )  in this period.
in addition to the 23 July SA directive banning mass gatherings and closing some public facilities, the authorities have also restricted movement between sub districts and closed all but essential shops. However, in other areas of NES lockdown measures remain relatively lax  ( i.e. life continues as normal ) , with limited adherence to/ enforcement of those directives which have been issued.
The number of confirmed cases among healthcare workers has also increased from 12 to 46 over the past week, with most of these cases concentrated in Hassakeh District  ( 18, all in Hassakeh city )  and Tall Refaat/ Shafha  ( 15 ) . The number of actual cases is likely to be significantly higher than the number of confirmed cases, particularly given the high number of individual clusters  ( spread over 7 districts )  and the low number of tests being performed.
These cases underline the need for strict infection prevention controls, particularly screening / triage outside the facility to ensure it does not become contaminated. In Kobane, there have also been challenges relating to the deployment of the RRT, contributing to delays in case confirmation and contact tracing.
Since the start of pandemic in northwest Syria, individuals who had contact with COVID 19 positive cases, i.e “contact cases', are frequently resisting to be referred to isolation/quarantine centres. Awareness raising efforts should continue to focus on the available facilities and to highlight their services.
1,832,300 medical surgical masks, 3,521,900 examination gloves and 90,600 protective gowns were procured and will be transferred to northwest Syria soon. The COVID 19 supplies survey data is collected and supplies to cover the needs for a one month period will be distributed to health facilities.
There is currently limited information available on the evolution of cases in Raqqa. However, it is likely that the number of actual cases significantly exceeds the 9 confirmed cases. Raqqa residents report that life ‘continues as normal' with limited restrictions on normal daily activities. Combined with the lax lockdown measures, local governance and coordination mechanisms for COVID 19 are weak. This has contributed to blockages in the deployment of RRTs and contact tracers, hampering efforts to detect cases early and contain the spread of the outbreak.
Concrete measures are being put in place to strengthen the implementation in certain critical areas such as improving testing and sample collection and improving field strength for contact tracing. This includes strong monitoring mechanisms to audit facility level readiness in terms of IPC measures including triage and refresher trainings for staff.
Under capacity building, the Early Warning and Response Network's  ( EWARN )  District Level Officers  ( DLOs )  conducted 9 training sessions for 108 health care providers working in 9 health facilities in Idleb, Harim, Afrin and Jisr Ash Shugur on the basics of COVID 19 disease surveillance and diagnosis.
Since mid August, a 2 day psychological first aid  ( PFA )  training for COVID 19 and Self Care was held. targeted 164 frontline workers in addition to staff working at CCTCs and isolation hospitals were trained and an additional 140 will receive the training by mid September.
The dire economic factor in northwest Syria is playing an important role in deterring potential cases from accepting to go into quarantine in CCTCs or even in their own home due to fear of losing their livelihoods and income in the absence of any paid leave system and/or financial support.
There are 11 COVID 19 Community Treatment Centres  ( CCTCs )  and 7 hospitals dedicated for COVID 19 in northwest Syria with the capacity of 645 hospital beds out of which 114 are intensive care unit beds. There are 86 available ventilators.
Before COVID 19, the lack of health care workers in northwest Syria was a serious challenge and some health care workers are working in more than one health facility. Therefore, the Health Directorates requested in a written statement that the health workers who are working in COVID 19 health facilities do not work in another facility. While this would potentially limit the infections within the community from health workers who may inadvertently spread the virus, it may have a negative impact on the available human resources to maintain the non COVID 19 health service provision.
COVID 19 outbreak and economic downturn could potentially cause a further deterioration of the nutrition situation during the second half of 2020 attributed to dysfunctional markets, limited livelihoods opportunities, inflation, low purchasing power, increasing food insecurity, and disruption of access to health and WASH services.
Since December 2019, GBV sub cluster members have distributed over 240,000 dignity kits. Based on feedback, those kits where critical in responding to their increased need for personal hygiene products in the time of COVID 19 and satisfaction was reported with measures taken by GBV sub cluster members during distributions to prevent against COVID 19. Kit contents are being adjusted to meet specific needs related to COVID 19.
Restrictions of movements and forced quarantine measures are impeding GBV and violence against children survivors' access to services. Schools, community centers, Child Friendly Spaces and Women and Girl Safe Spaces were significantly scaled down due to COVID 19 precaution measures. This has also made it more difficult for women and girls to disclose incidents and seek GBV services as well as for children affected by violence to be identified.
Issues related to women's access to health services were observed during the reporting period, as well as a reduced willingness of older persons and persons with disabilities to seek basic healthcare due to fears of contracting COVID  19 or a hampered ability to access health centers.
The impact of the economic deterioration and COVID 19 mitigation measures exacerbates an already dire humanitarian situation for children in northwest Syria, resulting in a steep increase of families resorting to negative and harmful coping mechanisms including child labour, including the worst forms of child labour, and child marriage.
Despite limitations in an increasingly restrictive operational environment and suspension of Child Friendly Spaces, child protection members have strived to deliver, while incorporating where possible COVID 19 prevention messages and messages on childcare in times of isolation and unpredictability. Child protection members continue to adapt core activities, such as PSS activities and parenting programmes. However, with the confirmed COVID 19 cases in northwest Syria, members are currently getting ready to implement with even stricter measures on the ground, which will slow down activities.
in July 2020, they recommended that the Syrian government increase testing and expand laboratory networks; strengthen infection prevention, including increasing availability of PPE to health workers; reinforce hospital capacity and community awareness.
Including these cases the number of confirmed cases in NES is 211, with 15 deaths and 30 recoveries. In addition the above does not include the 24 cases  ( 20 in Hassakeh and 4 in Deir ez Zor )  confirmed by the GoS Ministry of Health, including 2 deaths  ( 1 in both Hassakeh and Deir ez Zor ) .
NGO staff are still able to cross the Fishkhabour / Semalka border every Tuesday. It is strongly recommended that humanitarian staff cross within 48 hours of receiving a negative PCR test in KRI. This will ensure that staff are subsequently exempted from mandatory quarantine and is also an additional safeguard to ensure that humanitarian staff are not contributing to the spread of COVID 19 in NES.
At the sub district level, Ariha subdistrict in Idleb governorate and Atareb sub district in western Aleppo governorate received about 10 thousand and 8 thousand spontaneous IDP return movements respectively while Ehsem sub district in southern Idleb governorate received about 6 thousand spontaneous IDP return movements. Return movements to these three sub districts make up for the 56% of the overall spontaneous IDP return movements.
In high density sub districts, focal points report that wearing facemasks  ( 45% )  and gloves  ( 19% )  is more prevalent than in low density areas  ( 10% and 4% respectively ) . This is unsurprising given the lower availability of personal protective equipment in rural areas.
In July, the first positive COVID 19 cases were detected in north west Syria. As access to health and adequate san  itation in the context of continuous displacement remains limited across the region, the humanitarian community is actively operating to deliver lifesaving assistance while ensuring the safety of the people.
With the first cases of COVID 19 found in the region, considerations around the displaced people's health, as well as that of humanitarian workers, were strengthened in the planning of activities. UNHCR continued to work with its partners to ensure that proper measures to mitigate the risk of the spreading of the virus were in place
Moreover, additional hygiene kits were distributed during protection interventions, as part of COVID 19 mitigating measures. These kits contained an increased quantity of soap to help preventing the spread of the virus. During protection interventions, UNHCR's partners also shared information to raise awareness on COVID 19.
In NSAG/TBAF areas, social media remains the main source of information for many communities, increasing each month  ( 29% in May, 32% in June and 48% in July ) , compared to just 15% and 16% in GoS and SDF areas, respectively.
Authorities have informed the NES Forum that PCR testing will be available at the border. After staff have taken a test, they are required to isolate at home  ( NGO guesthouse or designated quarantine hotel )  for 14 days. There also remains an option to negotiate travel directly to the airport from the border.
Over the past three months, communities consistently report wanting more information on treatment  ( 58% ) , testing  ( 48% ) , and what to do if sick  ( 46% ) . Though trends in information gaps are the same by AoC, communities in GoS are more likely to request information on symptoms  ( 48% )  than those in NSAG/TBAF and SDF areas. Findings by population density mirror these trends, yet those living in high density sub districts want information on cases  ( 49% ) , while those in low density sub districts report needing clarity on how to identify coronavirus symptoms  ( 46% )
• Quarantine in KRI: i )  Upon arrival to Erbil International Airport: staff are required to either arrive with a valid PCR test  ( administered within 48 hours of arrival )  or take a test at the airport. Even if the test is negative, 14 day self  quarantine  ( either at home/ guesthouse or one of several designated hotels for quarantine )  is mandatory as per MOH guidelines; ii )  Upon arrival to Dohuk via Fishkhabour/Semalka: same procedures as arrival via Erbil airport should apply.
In NES, WASH SO2 increased by 70% from approximately 299,000 to 509,600 individuals reached from May to June
[ 9 May 2021, NES ]  Residents of villages that benefited from stations that have gone out of service now rely on water tankers to meet their needs, including drinking water. A 200 liter barrel costs SYP 1,000  ( $0.35 according to the parallel market exchange rate ) . The Raqqa Civil Council's Water Office has appealed to residents of the area to ration water and not waste it.
Twenty one percent of focal points report non adherence to precautionary measures in July – similar to the proportions in June  ( 20% )  and May  ( 15% ) . However, they suggest a dramatic decrease in people staying home except for essential purposes. In May, 52% of focal points believed their communities would stay home unless necessary to leave, but only 19% in June and July. In addition, focal points believe people are now less likely to practise social distancing  ( 19% )  than they were in May  ( 36% ) . General fatigue or frustration with  ( and frequent inability to implement )  the precautionary measures is unsurprising, compounded by the worsening economic situation.
• Movement restrictions in NES: NGO exemptions to the curfew still apply, and staff can move within all governorates using only NGO IDs. Movement between different governorates requires permission from the Head of the Humanitarian Affairs Office, which can be requested remotely via WhatsApp or email. Movement of supplies between governorates is subject to the same approvals process.
adherence to hygiene recommendations has increased in NSAG/TBAF areas  ( 60%, compared to 48% in May ) . Twenty five percent of focal points report that communities in NSAG/TBAF areas are wearing facemasks, compared to 21% in May.11 As such, the number of respondents reporting that their communities are not adopting any precautionary measures at all in NSAG/TBAF areas has decreased from 49% in May to 37% in July, despite the nationwide upward trend.
Most focal points in GoS  ( 64% )  and SDF  ( 59% )  areas still say that the reason measures are difficult is because people do not want to adhere to them. In NSAG/TBAF areas, the main issue is that they limit people's ability to work. Fear of missing out on aid services is higher in NSAG/TBAF areas  ( 46% of focal points )  than in GoS  ( 31% )  and SDF areas  ( 13% ) .
Staying indoors  ( 76% )  and social distancing  ( 66% )  are more difficult for communities in high density sub districts.12 In addition to needing to attend or seek work  ( 60% ) , people are afraid of missing out on aid services  ( 53% )  if they stay home. This fear of losing aid is less prevalent in low density areas  ( 21% ) , perhaps because these “hard to reach' locations face higher barriers to the implementation of humanitarian activities to begin with.
Focal points note that if their communities experience COVID 19 symptoms they would most likely to go to a health provider  ( 55% )  or self isolate  ( 34% ) . Communities in high density sub districts are less likely to self isolate  ( 17% )  than those in low  density sub districts  ( 43% ) .14 Only 3% of those living in low density sub districts would call a health provider.
Nationwide, focal points believe communities cannot meet their needs due to an increase in prices  ( 98% ) , fear of losing employment  ( 54% ) , and lack of product availability  ( 29% ) . These are also the top three issues for communities in all AoCs.
Fear of going to shops  ( 27% )  is affecting communities in high density sub districts, unsurprising due to the inability to practise social distancing.16 This does not mean they will simply stay home since they are also concerned about losing their income  ( 31% ) .
Products are less available in low density areas  ( 46% ) ,17 making price hikes a primary concern  ( 45% ) . Lack of understanding of the virus in low density sub districts may cause people to choose between the certainty of hunger and the perceived uncertainty of the virus.
The deterioration of community level implementation of precautionary measures indicates a trust gap, with fewer focal points believing that measures will be successful  ( 53% )  than in May  ( 63% ) . More people in NSAG/TBAF areas view things in a positive light now  ( 41% )  than in May  ( 36% ) , but focal points in this AoC are still the least certain that precautionary measures will have an impact.
a dozen health facilities suspended operations in August due to a lack of personal protective equipment or staff becoming infected. Of the 65,000 people at Al Hol, the majority   some 35,000   are under the age of five. “No child should be forced to live under the challenging and potentially dangerous conditions at Al Hol camp,' he said, adding that the camp has also endured repeated water supply disruptions in August.
In May 2020, a total of 12 projects were fully operational despite COVID 19, and four projects partially.
Many refugees struggle to access health and other services due to language barriers and issues with their statuses. Many Syrian refugee children in the country have also missed out on months or years of education, and now risk falling even further behind in the event of prolonged school closures.
A livelihood project focusing on the economic integration of Syrian refugees and vulnerable host communities' members is in its start up phase. The intervention aims at supporting people motivated to get their living by engaging in entrepreneurial activities through the provision of soft and business skills and ﬁnancial help to establish registered micro enterprises. WV aims at supporting economic recovery for people through this intervention.
In addition, 11 clinics in community centres continue to provide medical consultations and 14 UNHCR run primary health care facilities Damascus, rural Damascus, Homs, Hama, Aleppo and Hasakeh are fully functional and providing health services to persons of concern.
UNHCR in cooperation with the World Food Programme and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent distributed food baskets for over 850 refugee families at the start of June. UNHCR outreach volunteers were present at the registration centre and distribution point to support with managing flows of people, verifying beneficiary names, delivering food baskets, and accompanying the most vulnerable cases.