nlp-thedeep/humsetbias huggingface dataset:
[ October 9, NES, # of cases  ] As of 9 October, there have been 2,314 case of COVID 19 in NES, comprising 1,686 active cases, 551 recoveries and 77 fatalities. 294 of all cases were confirmed among health workers  ( 13% of all cases ) . 37% of the 6,339 samples tested have so far returned positive. As of 9 October, the 7 day rolling average of daily confirmed cases was 74 cases.
[ October 14, NES, Specialized case management training ]  There is a critical need to establish dedicated training plans to bolster clinical care capacity, particularly for severe and critical cases. The lack of specialist staff and limited capacity of NES NGOs to provide this training presents the most pressing gap over the coming months, and will compromise quality of care.
[ October 14, NES, Complacency among authorities and public health officials ] In some areas, authorities have actively encouraged people to go about their normal daily lives, making unfounded claims that the strain of the virus in NES is ‘weak' and unlikely to cause serious illness or death. In addition, there has been limited uptake of personal preventative measures  ( such as use of face coverings, hand washing, social distancing and screening at building entrances )  among these groups, contributing to general complacency among the population.
[ October 14, NES,Unchecked movement through POEs ] In addition, at many POEs there has been inadequate implementation of basic screening protocols, with Rapid Diagnostic Tests  ( RDTs )  being applied instead of rigorous temperature screening and clinical assessments. The high frequency of movement through informal POEs, where there is no screening/ monitoring infrastructure, is a significant challenge.
[ October 14, NES, laboratories ]  The main barrier to scaling up testing is the lack of diagnostic supplies, including PCR kits and RNA extraction kits. The SA, advised by the NES COVID 19 Technical Committee and WHO have decided to adopt a centralized approach to testing, reinforcing and strengthening capacity at the Qamishli laboratory rather than establishing laboratories at the local level.
According to residency status, in August 2020, the prevalence of inadequate food consumption was much higher among returnees  ( 49 percent ) . The observed spike was driven by the increased number of interviewed returnees' households reporting poor food consumption: almost double from July to August 2020. Also, the proportion of displaced households and residents with poor and borderline food consumption increased, reaching 46 and 39 percent, respectively.
Access clean water: Despite the ongoing repairs, water did not reach Al Hasakeh for around two weeks in August 2020, highlighting a particular concern given the spread of COVID 19 cases in northeastern Syria and the regular need to access clean water to safeguard against further spread of the pandemic
Increase of cases: A threefold increase in the COVID 19 cases has been recorded across Syria during August 2020. As of 31 August, 2,765 COVID 19 cases were officially confirmed, including 112 fatalities. An increase of close to 265 percent compared to the national rate of COVID  19 cases at the end of July
Access to medical care: The proportion of surveyed households facing challenges to access healthcare facilities were hovering at 15 percent in August. Syrian households who had difficulty accessing medical services in Quneitra have almost doubled compared to levels reported in July 2020, reaching 24 percent in August.
[ September 10 23, NES, lack of testing capacity  ] The lack of PCR testing kits is one of the key factors contributing to the current low level of testing in NES, with local authorities reluctant to undertake intensive testing in the event of a further surge in cases during the winter.
[ September 10 23, Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Lattakia, # of cases ]  As of 19 September, the MoH reported approximately 34,033 tests performed in laboratories in Damascus, Aleppo, Homs and Lattakia governorates. A new laboratory in Rural Damascus has been established. Of the cases announced by the MoH, 143 are reported to be healthcare workers, mainly working in Damascus
[ 14/Oct/2020 ]   [ Syria ]  Octane 90 petrol, however, will continue to be sold at a subsidised price of SYP 250 litre for the first 100 litres, and then at an unsubsidised price of SYP 450 per litre after that. Car owners are mostly limited to purchasing a total of 200 litres per month.
[ September 10 23, GoS, # of cases ]  The Syrian MoH has announced 170 fatalities, representing an increase of 58 cases since 1 September, or one third of all reported deaths. In addition, 932 recoveries were reported. Highlighting the particular risks faced by healthcare workers, 143 healthcare workers have tested positive for COVID 19, according to the Syrian MoH; an increase of 53 since the last report. This includes 59 in Damascus, 30 in Lattakia, 14 in Rural Damascus, nine in Aleppo, six in Quneitra, six in Tartous, seven in Hama, six in Dar'a, three in Al Hasakeh, two in As Sweida and one in Homs. Eleven HCWs are reported to have died, most recently on 3 September.
[ September 10 23, NES, factors for COVID 19 spreading ] The high risk of undetected transmission in NES is compounded by the limited lockdown measures imposed in many areas, local coordination challenges  ( including around the deployment of rapid response and contact tracing teams, as well as the referral of patients with severe symptoms to designated COVID 19 facilities ) , sub optimal case management capacity, as well as concerning levels of transmission being reported among healthcare workers and at key health facilities
[ September 10 23, GoS, # of cases ]  The steady increase in affected healthcare workers reported since July underscores – given Syria's fragile healthcare system with already insufficient numbers of qualified healthcare personnel – the potential for its overstretched healthcare capacity to be further compromised.
[ September 12, NWS, # of cases ]  In NWS, as of 12 September, 213 confirmed cases of COVID 19 were reported  ( 69 from Idleb and 144 from Aleppo governorate ) , including three deaths  ( Case Fatality Rate: 1.4 per cent ) . Until that date, 193 cases developed mild symptoms, 10 developed moderate/severe symptoms, and 10 cases were asymptomatic. 87  ( 41 per cent )  of the cases have already recovered
[ September 10 23, NES, Points of Entry ]  Humanitarian personnel and medical cases are reportedly exempt. While earlier reports indicated mandatory quarantine periods for humanitarian personnel, subsequent reports indicate this is no longer the case or not applied in practice.
[ September 10 23, NES, preventive measures in camps ]  It's not been possible to impose local lockdowns in camps or movement restrictions, and screening of close contacts is only occurring at the Al Hol IDP camp, not Menbij. There remains a significant risk and high likelihood of transmission in camps.
[ September 10 23, NES, factors that affecting health workers ]  The high level of exposure among health workers is due to a combination of factors, including low levels of compliance with personal preventative measures – including proper use of PPE and lack of social distancing among staff, inadequate screening/triage at the entrance to health facilities, suspect cases visiting health facilities rather than reporting symptoms remotely, movement of health workers between multiple health facilities and, in some cases, reported shortages of PPE.
[ September 10 23, Syria, Government capacity ]  At the central level, the Syrian MoH has announced 21 isolation centres are currently running, with a cumulative capacity of 1,034 beds, including 855 isolation beds, 179 intensive care units  ( ICU )  beds, and 158 ventilators. The 33 quarantine centres are reported to have 5,764 beds.
[ September 17, Syria, access restriction  ] As of 17 September, border crossings remain impacted as Syria and neighboring countries continue to sustain and reinforce their precautionary measures. Most land borders into Syria remain closed, with some limited exemptions  ( from Turkey and Lebanon ) , including commercial and relief shipments, as well as movement of humanitarian and international organization personnel. International commercial passenger flights remain suspended, however, domestic flights are ongoing.
[ September 10 23, Syria, case management capacity  ] 
• Individual isolation spaces: As noted, COVID 19 isolation facilities should also be equipped to treat suspect cases with more severe symptoms. The installation of individual isolation units is therefore critical. 
• Training and staff capacity: There is a need to establish dedicated training plans to bolster clinical care capacity, particularly for severe and critical cases.
[ September 10 23, NWS, curbing transmission among health workers ]  In NWS, a major focus has been on curbing transmission amongst HCWs, as over 35 per cent  ( 25 )  of cases are among HCWs. To mitigate outbreaks among the medical community, a number of actions are being undertaken. Surveillance is working to come out with a renewed testing strategy for NWS, based on WHO recommendations, adopting to context. This will include: • Testing of HCWs at high risk facilities dealing with respiratory illness • Periodicity of testing in focus areas  ( hot spots )  • Testing of HCWs with multiple shifts/contracts • Testing of HCWs where there are multiple co infection related service delivery points  ( for e.g. tuberculosis )
[ 23/Sep/2020 ]   [ Syria ]  Families of two or fewer persons, which number 1,626,432, representing 46 percent of the families with a smart card in the three targeted governorates, can now buy only one pack of bread per day; families of three to four, which number 1,047,210  ( 30 percent ) , can buy up two packs of bread per day; families of five and six, which number 684,573  ( 19 percent ) , can buy up to three daily packs; and families of seven and more, which represent 183,402  ( five percent )  can buy four daily packs.
[ September 10 23, Syria, key priorities ] The current key priorities in Syria are: • Enhancing surveillance capacity, including active surveillance, with a critical need to expand laboratory capacity at the national and sub national level to test for timely detection; • Protecting health care workers by training and providing additional PPE; •Ensuring proper case management, isolation and contact tracing; and • Raising awareness and risk communication.
[ October 14, NES, Providing additional capacity to SA supported COVID facilities  ] In multiple areas, additional support is needed to improve the functionality of COVID 19 facilities established by the authorities. In areas such as Deir ez Zor, Qamishli, Menbij and Tabqa, capacity is limited with many facilities comprising beds and basic medical equipment with little consideration around organizational layout or staffing. As well as providing in kind and financial support for such facilities  ( e.g. covering running costs and staff salaries ) , technical expertise is also required to ensure these facilities are fit for purpose and do not exacerbate IPC risks
[ September 10 23, Syria, case management capacity  ]  • Staffing: As mentioned in the previous section, acute shortages in staffing continue to create challenges in activating COVID 19 facilities and contribute to cross contamination between health facilities. It is imperative that staff working in COVID facilities do not also work in non COVID facilities to reduce this risk of contamination.
[ September 10 23, NES, movement restriction ]  Local authorities continue the Fishkabour/Semalka informal border crossing, and in other limited cases, including urgent medical cases to cross to Iraq. for humanitarian goods and personnel at to provide exemptions. All border crossing points remain closed as a precautionary measure. Humanitarian personnel and medical cases are reportedly exempt. While earlier reports indicated mandatory quarantine periods for humanitarian personnel, subsequent reports indicate this is no longer the case or not applied in practice.
[ September 12, Al Hasakeh , # of cases ] As of 12 September, new confirmed cases continue to be concentrated in Al Hasakeh Governorate, with the highest weekly increase recorded in Derik  ( Malakiyeh )  District with 50 new confirmed cases  ( a 53 per cent increase in confirmed cases week on week ) . The number of new confirmed cases recorded outside Al Hasakeh remains limited.
[ September 18, NES, # of cases ] In the past four weeks alone, confirmed cases reported by the MoH have increased by around 94 per cent. As of 18 September, there are 1,121 confirmed cases of COVID 19 in NES. Of these, there were 741 active cases, 328 recovered cases and 52 deaths. More information on the epidemiological situation in NES by area is provided under the next section. Of the 1,121 cases, the highest number of cases  ( 358 )  were reported from Qamishli and Al Hasakeh District  ( 264 )  in Al Hasakeh Government
[ September 10 23, GoS, # of cases ]  In Government of Syria  ( GoS )  controlled areas of the country, 3,765 laboratory confirmed cases have been reported by the MoH as of 19 September: three in Ar Raqqa; 13 in Deir ez Zor; 26 in Al Hasakeh; 76 in Dar'a; 76 in Quneitra; 104 in Tartous; 130 in As Sweida; 139 in Hama; 270 in Homs; 317 in Rural Damascus; 410 in Lattakia; 873 in Aleppo; and 1,328 in Damascus. In total, 1,892 new cases have been announced since the last report.
[ November 13, NWS ]  In times of widespread, and increasing hunger, girls, and particularly young mothers, have also been carrying the burden of education and nourishing the youngest, a challenge compounded by lack of access to resources and COVID 19 restrictions, at an age when they are still trying to put their lives together.
[ November 13, NWS ]  The situation of girls and young women is particularly worrisome with an increase of out of school girls and increased trends of early marriage and pregnancies and other protection issues, including GBV.
[ 17 Sept, 2Aug, NWS, # of cases ]  A total of 213 coronavirus cases were recorded in northwest Syria. Of these, 69 were diagnosed in Idleb and 144 in Aleppo between 9 July and 12 September,a with two each in Sarmada and Bab Alsalamehc IDP camps.
[ 3rd March, 2021, GoS ]  Humanitarian partners have been informed by local authorities of 32 identified quarantine facilities and 50 isolation spaces in 13 governorates. At the central level, the MoH has announced 21 isolation centres are currently running, with a cumulative capacity of 1,144 beds, including 934 isolation beds, 210 ICU beds, and 185 ventilators. The 32 quarantine centres are reported to have 5,182 beds.
[ Syria 2019, Food insecurity and nutrition ]  Chronic malnutrition has increased during the conflict, incurring relatively high stunting and mortality rates among children.Trends in displacement, food prices, unemployment and access to health services and humanitarian aid are all factors that affect malnutrition. Unfortunately, systematic statistics on malnutrition remain largely unavailable.
[ October 6, Al Hasakeh ]  Fifty percent  ( 50% )  of respondents reported incorrectly that everyone who gets COVID 19 shows symptoms.
[ October 6, Al Hasakeh, adherence to measures ]  Ninety six percent  ( 96% )  of men and 95% of women reported they had taken some action to prevent the spread of COVID 19.
[ Syria 2019, Food insecurity and nutrition ]  The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations  ( FAO )  and the United Nations World Food Programme  ( WFP )  estimate that 46 per cent of households are cutting down on their daily food rations, and 38 per cent on adult consumption to ensure children have enough to eat
[ Syria 2019, Food insecurity and nutrition ]  About 6.5 million people were food insecure and a further 2.5 million were liable to becoming acutely insecure in 2019. Many families have adopted harmful mechanisms to cope with the emerging status quo, including poor consumption patterns.
[ Syria 2019, Health ]  Despite the de escalation in several regions, attacks on health facilities were persistent in 2019. The number of people in need of care increased in 2019 to 13.2 million across the country compared with 11.3 million in 2018.
[ October 1, NWS, adherence to preventive measures ] Fifty two percent  ( 52% )  of all respondents have face masks, although, the reported rate of wearing a face mask in different scenarios is below 30%.
[ October 1, NWS, coping mechanisms ] Fifty seven percent  ( 57% )  of respondents reported that drinking boiled herbs and eating certain foods remains one of the main myths they have heard surrounding the prevention of COVID 19.
[ Syria, 2019 ]  WHO estimates that 1 in 30 people living in the Syrian Arab Republic is affected by a severe mental health disorder, such as extreme depression and psychosis, with one in five experiencing more moderate forms of mental distress, such as depression and anxiety
[ Syria 2019, protection ]  Exploitative practices have escalated during the conflict. Several groups, commonly children, youth, women and the elderly, have been left unprotected from various threats, including loss of civil documents, human trafficking, looting and other forms of exploitation.
[ Syria 2019, protection ]  Among protection concerns, 59 per cent of assessed communities reported they had lost civil documentation.
[ October 1, NWS, closure of borders ] The report also states that that while accommodations have been made in most instances to facilitate continued access by humanitarian staff, there have been incidents of movement restrictions on civilians seeking medical treatment across the border.
[ Syria 2019, protection ]  Further, limited socioeconomic opportunities for women have led to pervasive gender based violence. Forced marriages for girls as young as 10, verbal harassment and sexual violence, including rape, are all reported as mounting concerns by assessed communities.
[ October 1, NWS ] Fifty five percent  ( 55% )  of respondents in Aleppo reported that they face barriers in taking preventive measures to the mitigate risk of contracting COVID 19. Those who do not wear a mask  ( 3% )  report that it is too uncomfortable.
[ September 28, Syria, children face hunger ]  A prolonged lack of nutritious food in the daily meals can cause lifelong risks for children, including stunting, or chronic malnutrition. In Syria, at least one in eight children, or 500,000, currently suffer from this condition.
[ September 28, Syria, children face hunger ]  “A whole generation of children are facing the risk of malnutrition, because their families simply can no longer afford to put a meal on the table. Unless we act now to alleviate this suffering, more children will have to watch as their portion of food becomes smaller by the day.'
[ October 28, Jabal Al Zawieh, Access to medical care ]  “ If the degree of his injury is very severe, maybe he can make it, maybe not to the hospital,' this is how Sakhr Badran described the danger of having to help the injured and sick travel tens of miles to get medical care.
[ October 1, NWS, closures of borders ]  In addition, the report indicates that short term closures and limitations on the number of people allowed to cross at international and internal crossing points have hindered access by humanitarian workers to support the response to existing needs and COVID 19 in vulnerable areas.
[ October 28, Jabal Al Zawieh, Access to medical care ] In a poll conducted by Enab Baladiin the region, through the “What is your problem' program, some residents complained about the lack of hospitals or medical centers in the area, despite the return of residents who were forced to flee at the beginning of this year.
[ October 28, Jaba, Access to medical care ] There is no medical center within 35 kilometers  ( 21.7 miles )  of Jabal al Zawiya, which poses risks to the patient's life and exacted “exorbitant' costs depending on his family's living standard.
[  Syria, Loss of documentation ]  The loss of civil documentation is another barrier to school enrolment and grade completion, particularly when sitting official exams. With these emerging social epidemics, the Syrian Arab Republic faces the acute challenge of having lost a generation. The detrimental outcomes of a rising generation of undereducated youth will likely unfold throughout the later stages of their lives, jeopardizing their future employment opportunities, mental health and lifetime well being.
[ Syria 2019, # of schools affected by conflict ]  Schools have endeavored to operate in conflict zones but deliberate attacks on educational institutions have not ceased, with 426 school bombardments officially verified since 2011. More than 40 per cent of school infrastructure is crippled, with one out of three schools either damaged or destroyed or used as a shelter.59 The widespread use of schools as collective shelters for IDPs has increased pressure on the education infrastructure.
[ Syria, Risk of drop out ]  Children face obstacles that put them at risk of dropping out of school. As family incomes become strained and standards of living deteriorate, the likelihood of participating in income generating activities to support families increases.
[ Syria 2019, Poverty ]  Extreme poverty is projected to have increased during the conflict, with an estimated 40 per cent of the population living under $1.90 per day in 2019.'
[  Syria 2019 ]  The Syrian Arab Republic is estimated to have had a reduction in per capita expenditure from $250.2 per month  ( 2011 PPP $ )  in 2010 to $86.59 in 2019. The poverty situation today, particularly after the COVID 19 pandemic, may have further deteriorated due the further declines in income per capita and is expected, according to a recent ESCWA study to further deteriorate by 2021  ( ESCWA, 2020 ) .
[ September 28, Syria, children face hunger ]  Seven hundred thousand more children face hunger in Syria owing to the country's badly damaged economy, partly due to the impact of the COVID 19 restrictions.
[ Syria 2019, Food insecurity and nutrition ]  As of the end of 2016 and up to mid 2018, the price of an average food basket fell steadily across the Syrian , yet since then the food prices began to increase again.Compared with pre conflict levels, prices are much higher and purchasing power substantially lower due to various factors, including the limited production capacity described above, disrupted trade and the currency devaluation. In some 40 per cent of Syrian households, more than 65 per cent of expenditure is on food.This spending pattern has squeezed the middle class budgets and is pushing more people into poverty.
[ Syria 2019, Health ]  Health facilities and staff are indiscriminately targeted during attacks, with a detrimental impact on civilians. The availability of services in terms of quantity and quality has sharply declined. In 2018, health facilities and workers were attacked 142 times, a significant increase compared with 2017. Some 48 per cent of total public health facilities are reported to be partially functional or non functional by the end of 2018.
[ September 28, # of cases ]  Across Syria, 5,480 cases of COVID 19 have been confirmed so far. These numbers are likely to be just the tip of iceberg, as there are huge gaps in testing and a shortage in Personal Protective Equipment.
[ Syria 2019, protection ]  Reasons are numerous, including leaving papers behind when fleeing gunfire, expiration and lack of legal services, and confiscation. A lack of identification documents, especially Syrian identity cards, poses a serious threat for civilians, entailing limited access to humanitarian aid and public services. More importantly, it puts a substantial fraction of them, especially newborns and children, at grave risk of statelessness and long lasting social marginalization
[ October 28, Jabal Al Zawieh, Access to medical care ]  Through his participation in Enab Baladi's survey, Ahmad Rahal described the health services available in the area as “zero,' indicating that the health center only provides pills or injections; the very sick and injured people have to rent private cars to reach nearby hospitals.
[ September 28, Syria, children face hunger ] After almost ten years of conflict and displacement, an unprecedented number of children in Syria are now battling soaring rates of malnutrition, a new report by Save the Children reveals.
[ October 28, Jabal Al Zawieh, Access to medical care ] The medical center in the region does not have the equipment and adequate healthcare staff to treat shrapnel wounds. However, the center is equipped to provide treatment for minor ailments, first aid, and pharmaceutical services.
[ September 28, Syria, Causes of food price increase ]  Coronavirus restrictions, years of violence, and mass job losses have devastated millions of people's livelihoods. Currency depreciation and a reduction in the flow of goods have made the situation worse, pushing food prices ever higher. According to the World Food Programme, a food basket that can feed a family now costs more than 23 times the pre crisis average – and more than double the previous peak in 2016.
[ September 28, Syria, children face hunger ]  Parents are left with no choice but to cut out fresh food such as meat, fruit and vegetables, instead relying on rice or grains for weeks on end. A recent survey conducted by Save the Children found that 65% of children have not had an apple, an orange, or a banana for at least three months. In North East Syria, almost a quarter of children said that they had not eaten these fruits in at least nine months.
[ September 28, Syria, children face hunger ]  “Malnutrition is a greatly overlooked problem facing Syria's children.' Save the Children's Syria Response Director, Sonia Khush, said. “Malnourished children face myriad risks to their health and wellbeing, such as stunting, which limits children's ability to fight off disease, increases the likelihood of anxiety and depression, and leads to poor performance in school.
[ October 19, Idlib, fear of reach out to centres ]  The director of the mental health project at USSOM indicated that the coronavirus affects keeping patients away from receiving treatment in health centers, with their fear of “people talking' if they seek psychological support.
[ October 19, Idlib, Access to psychological support ]  The mental health project includes nine centers in Idlib governorate. It is presumed that the number of centers may increase to 17 in the future, according to Radwan. However, the region “is in great need of filling the psychological support gap,' as Radwan put it.
[ December, NWS ] There is concern that such fear could result in a greater reliance on substandard alternatives to specialist care, such as self medication, use of improvised homemade treatments, and acceptance of low quality black market supplies. Ruba, who lives in Armanaz, Idlib, told the IRC, “The clinic and hospital in our area were bombed several times and so they had to close. We had to resort to going to pharmacies and midwives, as our children had a lot of medical conditions.'
[ November 2, NWS, Crowded camps ]  “We live in a camp all crammed in together. If someone talks to his family, all the neighbors can hear it,' said Sweidan, who is in his 40s and has an existing health condition. If someone gets sick “it's hardly the disease's fault', the father of six added.
[ November 2, NWS, cases increased 6 times ] “In the northwest, confirmed cases have increased sixfold over the last month, with cases also rising in displacement camps and settlements,' Mark Lowcock, United Nations under secretary general for humanitarian affairs, told the UN Security Council on Tuesday.
[ November 2, NWS, adherence to measures ]  At the Idlib health directorate, Dr Yahya Nehmeh said they had asked residents to observe social distancing. But he admitted that was “near impossible' in the hundreds of informal settlements dotting the region. Few in the camps wear masks. Many cannot afford to buy face coverings, or to change them regularly, let alone disinfectant hand gels. For most, food, water, medicine and school supplies are far more important.
[ October 1, NWS, # of cases ]  As of 1 October, 1,072 people have tested positive for COVID 19 in Northwest Syria  ( NWS ) , including 6 fatalities. Reports from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs  ( OCHA )  indicate that 16% of all cases in NWS  ( 172 respondents )  are health care workers.
[ October 1, NWS, Points of entry ] The report also states that that while accommodations have been made in most instances to facilitate continued access by humanitarian staff, there have been incidents of movement restrictions on civilians seeking medical treatment across the border
[ October 1, NWS, points of crossing ]  In addition, the report indicates that short term closures and limitations on the number of people allowed to cross at international and internal crossing points have hindered access by humanitarian workers to support the response to existing needs and COVID 19 in vulnerable areas.
[ October 1, NWS, adherence to preventive measures ]  Fifty five percent  ( 55% )  of respondents in Aleppo reported that they face barriers in taking preventive measures to the mitigate risk of contracting COVID 19. Those who do not wear a mask  ( 3% )  report that it is too uncomfortable.
[ December 25, NWS ]  Camps of northern Syria have been witnessing increasing cases of coronavirus  ( COVID 19 )  infections, according to the Syrian Response Coordination Group  ( SRCG ) , amid failure to secure necessary medical aid to curb the spread of the virus, as mentioned by Idlib health directorate to Enab Baladi.
[ November 13, Idleb, social stigma ]  A member of the coronavirus advisory committee in Syria, Dr. Naboug al Awa, denied on 25 October, that the announced numbers are identical with the infection cases among students in schools, pointing out that dealing with the virus “as a shame,' and “this ignorance would lead to an epidemic disaster.'
[ December 25, NWS ]  In addition, the camps' inhabitants show a lack of awareness, manifested by the heavily crowded markets inside the camps, which are a primary reason for the spread of the infection, the head of the primary health care department of Idlib's health directorate, Dr. Anas al Dogheim stated toEnab Baladi.
[ 17 March 2021, NES ]  Human Rights Watch  ( HRW )  and other activists following the Syrian conflict say the government is likely to come up with a stratagem to deny the passage of vaccine to the northeast. In a report released last month, HRW said the regime has never shied from “withholding healthcare as a weapon of war', and if it deployed the same rulebook to the distribution of the vaccine it could jeopardise the global effort to contain the pandemic. Furthermore, since Russia succeeded at the United Nations Security Council  ( UNSC )  in getting the cross border opening to the northeast closed, HRW said there is “no guaranteed channel for vaccine distribution for two million people living there'.
[ 17 March 2021, NES ]  “Northeast is not under the government control and not under UNSC cross border mechanism, which means the only way aid agencies can access it is through Damascus,' said Sara Kayyali, Syria researcher at HRW. “We have already seen refusal by Damascus to allow testing labs for COVID in the northeast. Going by its past record of discrimination we can't rely solely on the government to let the vaccines through to the northeast.'
[ 25 Aug, GoS ]  The Ministry, in a statement, added that the total number of infections recorded in Syria till now has reached up to 27,115 of which 22,329 have recovered and 1,981 have passed away.
[ 24 Aug, GoS ]  In a statement, the Ministry said that the total number of infections recorded in Syria till now has reached up to 27,003 of which 22,309 have recovered and 1,977 have passed away.
[ November 13, Idleb, social stigma ]  Many health awareness campaigns and psychological support initiatives were widely carried out during the coronavirus lockdown. Still, many concerned organizations did not develop awareness within the population of not stigmatizing the COVID 19 patient with negative characteristics or blaming him for others' infection.
[ February 18, NWS ] Like all other residents of the city of Qamishli, Jalal complains about the high prices of drugs and price discrepancies between pharmacies, in addition to the difficulty of procuring some medicines.
[ March 2021, NES ]  KIs in 84% of communities cited the high cost of food as a common challenge.
[ Jan 2020 2021, Overall Syria ]  The percentage of households who reported that household income was insufficient to meet their needs has increased from 61 percent in January 2020 to 83 percent in January 2021. In January 2020, over a third of households  ( 39 percent )  reported that their income sufficiently met their needs. One year on, by January 2021, a significantly lower 16 percent of households reported the same  ( 1 percent reported that they did not know ) . This pattern reflects an extremely concerning nationwide trend, whereby reduced income and inaffordibility of basic and essential items have left the vast majority of households income insufficient and thereby reliant on coping mechanisms to supplement income gaps.
[ March 2021, Overall Syria ]  Sunflower recorded the highest price increase compared to the prices in January 2021, with an average selling price 7 474 for 1 litre, followed by flour and then chicken meat with an average selling price up to 1 442 for 1 Kg.
[ December 25, NWS ]  The total number of camps reached 1,293, inhabited by one million 43 thousand and 689 people, according to the data and statistics of the SRCG released on 27 August. The SRCG warned that the camps' population density is very high and that the inhabitants suffer from poor hygiene and inadequate health conditions that increase the chance of transforming concentration of displaced persons into an epicenter for the spread of COVID 19.
[ 13 APR 2021, GOS ]  Rural Damascus governorate and it's subdistricts had insufficient to no service of isolation space in health centres for suspected COVID 19 cases.
[ February 9, Aleppo ]  Officials of the Syrian regime's electricity sector attribute the frequent outages and instability of the service to the excessive demand and pressure that render power centers out of service.
[ January 9, Syria ]  the initiative "COVAX "aims to make the vaccine available for countries that cannot afford its costs. The WHO added Syria to a group of 92 lower income countries to be helped to obtain the vaccine as soon as it is approved.
[ April 2021, Overall Syria ]  The national average price of potatoes continued to increase, going up by 16 percent m o m and by 87 percent y o y, reaching SYP 1,002/kg in April 2021. The coastal region recorded the highest price at SYP 1,163/kg  ( up nine percent m o m ) , followed by the middle region at SYP 1,162/kg  ( up 18 percent m o m ) . Conversely, the cross border region recorded the lowest price at SYP 685/kg  ( down 16 percent m o m ) , followed by northeast Syria at SYP 881/kg  ( up 17 percent m o m ) .
[ November 9, NWS ]  According to a recent public survey by the Relief Experts Association  ( UDER ) , a community health organization that currently focuses primarily on raising awareness regarding the COVID 19 pandemic in northwestern Syria, “around 90% of the population believe that coronavirus is real and not a conspiracy.'
[ December 25, NWS ]  The northern Idlib camps are not properly prepared to prevent a further spread of the virus. These camps lack social distancing, water, cleaning materials, protective facial masks, and sterilizers.
[ February 2021, Al Hasakeh, NES ]  Reported modalities by which information was received: NGOs/ charities 94%, Internet 92%, Friends/family 60% and Television 38%.
[ November 9, NWS ]  Although this is “promising,' Dr. Hani Taleb, UDER's Executive Director, toldSyria Direct, “the same survey revealed that less than 5% of the population use a mask to protect themselves from the virus at all times.'
[ December 25, NWS ]  Al Dogheim explained that health facilities in the camps are not as available as needed. He added the community based isolation centers and hospitals receiving coronavirus cases are only limited to densely populated cities. The nearest of these facilities is the Tall al Karama Hospital and Darat Izza Hospital in the western Aleppo countryside. Meanwhile, Qah, Aqrabat, Atmah, and Silwah areas do not have hospitals or isolation centers.
[ December 25, NWS ]  The densely populated Atmah area and its camps of displaced people are about 20 kilometers away from hospitals or community isolation centers. The area suffers from poor road services.
[ November 9, NWS ]  “Despite knowing that not everybody can afford to buy masks,' Taleb added, “convincing people that it is the most important way to protect themselves against the virus motivates them to use any other alternatives, such as a cloth, to cover their faces in public.'
[ May 2021, NES ]  Symptoms that would need to change to encourage community members to seek medical care, Confidentiality mechanisms were the second most cited in terms of a change in circumstance by 70% of CFPs in Al Hasakeh, and 67% in Deir ez Zor.
[ December 25, NWS ]  The medical sector in Idlib, the last stronghold of opposition forces, suffers from inadequate health facilities, as the region's hospitals are overcrowded with coronavirus patients, amid warnings of inability to confront the virus.
[ February 2021, Al Hasakeh, NES ]  Handwashing with soap is an effective way to kill the virus and limit its spread, but in 45% of assessed settlements, people reportedly did not have access to handwashing facilities, while in 34% KIs cited available soap was too expensive.
[ May 2021, NES ]  The reason why they wouldn't go to a dedicated hospital for covid 19, 41% of CFPs cited they had heard the quality of care is lower than at normal hospitals, 39% said these facilities are too far away from their homes and they would not be able to travel there.
[ February 2021, Al Hasakeh, NES ]  Reported proportion of residents with access to handwashing facilities in assessed settlements: Everyone 19%, Most 7%, About half 16%, A few 13% and Nobody 45%.
[ May 2021, NES ]  Severity Level 1 | Symptoms only: 35% of CFPs reported that there are members in their community who have COVID 19 symptoms; 52% reported community members sought medical care at a hospital, regular health facility, or dedicated COVID 19 testing centre following symptoms.
[ May 2021, NES ]  Severity Level 1 | Symptoms only: % of CFPs reporting where medical care was sought: Hospital  ( 30% )  Regular health facility  ( 28% )  and COVID treatment facility  ( 18% ) .
[ March 2021, NES & GoS ]  From February to March 2021, the cow milk selling price increased in Homs, Rural Damascus, Hasakeh and Deir ez Zor governorates by 30, 22 and 18 percent respectively. The price did not change from February to March 2021 in Tartous and Dara' governorates. The average selling price reached 1 002 SYP per litre across all the eight monitored governorates with the highest price of 1 300 SYP per litre being recorded in Rural Damascus.
[ March 2021, GoS ]  For fish, the monthly market monitoring noticed the highest average selling price of 20 000 SYP per kg in Rural Damascus. This high and exorbitant price will further limit access and consumption of fish by most vulnerable and food insecure families, resulting in reduced dietary diversity.
[ November 9, NWS ]  One of the “reasons behind the rise in  [ COVID 19 ]  cases is that people do not understand the point of wearing a mask, and that it is necessary to relinquish some social customs such as kissing and hugging,' he added.
[ March 2021, NES & GoS ]  For sheep milk, the average selling price reached 1 390 SYP per litre with the highest selling price of 1 600 SYP per litre being recorded in Hasakeh governorate. This is followed by Homs, which recorded 1 540 SYP per litre, while the lowest selling price was observed in Dará at 1 100 SYP per litre.
[ March 2021, GoS ]  Olive oil price increased by 12 percent in March 2021. The average selling price of 10 151 SYP per litre was recorded across the eight monitored governorates. Aleppo governorate witnessed a sharp increase  ( 41 percent m o m ) , while the lowest selling price was recorded in Dará governorate at 8 500 SYP per litre.
[ March 2021, NES & GoS ]  Sunflower oil average price increased to 8 954 SYP per litre  ( 20 percent m o m increase ) . Aleppo and Deir ez Zor governorates witnessed a sharp m om increase  ( 88 and 70 percent respectively ) . In Hasakeh, the average selling price reached 7 200 SYP per litre  ( 31 percent m o m increase ) , while in Rural Damascus the price remained constant since February 2021 and with a litre was selling at 10 000 SYP.
[ March 2021, GoS ]  The average price of eggplant recorded was 1 114 SYP per kg in March 2021 across the monitored locations. However, Hasakeh governorate witnessed a sharp increase  ( 50 percent m o m increase )  with the average selling price reaching 1 500 SYP per Kg. Tartous governorate observed a slight price decrease  ( 1 percent m o m )  with the prices reaching 825 SYP per Kg. In both Aleppo and Dará governorates the price remained constant at 1 200 SYP per kg.
[ Jan 2020 2021, Overall Syria ]  Over the one year period, the percentage of households who reported borrowing money or buying on credit decreased from 76 percent to 71 percent and the percentage of those spending from savings decreased from 36 percent to 33 percent. Conversely, the percentage of households receiving remittances from abroad showed a notable increase  ( from 33 percent to 45 percent ) . This shift over time alludes to an increase in external reliance for survival, due to a decrease in household resilience and the depletion of savings and money lending mechanisms as a result of widespread cash shortages.
[ Jan 2020 2021, Overall Syria ]  In the crisis category, there was a notable increase in the percentage of households selling assets  ( from 18 percent to 23 percent )  and a slight increase in those selling productive assets  ( 7 percent to 8 percent ) . The increase of households resorting to coping strategies that directly impact their current situation and that of their future productivity is of great concern and represents the growing insecurities faced by household over this year period.
[ May 2021, NES ]  Severity Level 3 | Death: % CFPs reporting there are members who have died of COVID 19: Al Hasakeh  ( 11% )  Aleppo  ( 5% )  Ar Raqqa  ( 9% )  and Deir ez Zor  ( 37% ) .
[ November 27, NWS ]  Currencies accepted by shops: 31% of surveyed shops in Idleb Governorate reported accepting only TRY. In Aleppo Governorate only 16% of surveyed shops reported this.
[ November 27, NWS ]  A slight decrease in the number of newly arrived IDP households residing in solid/finished buildings  ( 2,032HH )  was observed compared to October  ( 44% and 50%, respectively ) , while those residing in functioning tents  ( 2,174 HH )  was slightly higher than in October  ( 38% and 32%, respectively ) . The proportion of IDP households residing in unfinished/damaged buildings  ( 744 HH )  remained unchanged at 16%.
[ May 2021, NES ]  Severity Level 3 | Death: % of CFPs reporting type of action taken:
 Sought medical care  ( 61% ) 
 Self isolated  ( 33% )  and
 Nothing  ( 6% ) .
[ December 2, Idleb ]  The SCD indicated that the number of COVID 19 confirmed cases is rising alarmingly because of people's recklessness to coronavirus restrictions, coinciding with the medical sector's depletion and its inability to receive all critical cases.
[ November 27, NWS ]  6,599 households  ( 97% of households )  were reportedly eating one meal or more per day, which was similar to the proportion of households as in the month of September  ( 98% of households ) . The most commonly reported food sources remain the same as in September, with stores/markets in the community  ( 84% of households )  and stores/markets in other communities  ( 57% )  as the top sources of food for newly arrived IDP households. The proportion of households relying entirely on food stored previously  ( 50% )  increased significantly compared to the month of September  ( 24% ) .
[ May 2021, NES ]  Severity Level 3 | Death: % of CFPs reporting where medical care was sought:
 Hospital  ( 63% ) 
 COVID treatment facility  ( 19% )  and
 Regular health facility  ( 9% ) .
[ 3 April 2021, GoS ]  The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights continues to keep pace with the outbreak of the Corona virus in the Syrian governorates within the areas of influence of the Syrian regime, as reliable medical sources from those areas reported that about 102 thousand new cases of the new Corona virus were recorded during the past few days in various governorates.
[ November 27, NWS ]  201 households  ( 4% )  did not have access to sufficient clean water for drinking, which was slightly higher than the number of households reported in October  ( 3% ) . 265 households  ( 6% )  did not have access to sufficient water for other purposes such as cooking, bathing and cleaning.
[ November 27, NWS ]  94% of newly arrived IDP households reportedly had access to soap, which was slightly lower than reported in September  ( 97% ) . 95% of newly arrived IDP households reportedly had access to a functioning toilet. 79% of newly  arrived IDP households reportedly had access to handwashing facilities with soap and water, which was significantly lower than reported in September  ( 87% ) .
[ May 2021, NES ]  Severity Level 3 | Death: 89% of CFPs in Aleppo reported community members sought medical care prior to death  ( vs. 55% in AH, 49% in AR, 76% in Dez ) ; only 6% of CFPs overall reported that community members were unwilling to seek care.
[ 3 April 2021, GoS ]  Amid the registration of 1,193 new deaths from the virus, the Syrian regime is still lying and concealing the true figures by announcing dozens of infections and deaths on a daily basis only, and large deaths are recorded as having occurred with “pneumonia'.
[ May 2021, NES ]  Severity Level 3 | Death: CFPs in Al Hasakeh  ( 35% )  and Ar Raqqa  ( 46% )  reported higher rates of self isolation post symptoms, as opposed to seeking medical care.
[ 7 April 2021, Overall Syria ]  Since the start of the pandemic, government controlled areas have registered 19,526 positive cases; the northeast 11,029; and opposition held areas in Idlib and parts of the western countryside of Aleppo province 21,394.
[ May 2021, NES ]  Severity Level 3 | Death: CFPs in urban settings reported a higher rate of seeking medical care at 86%  ( vs. 60% in rural ) .
[ January 2021, Overall Syria ]  Selling household goods or assets was most frequently reported in the coping strategy strategy category  ( 23 percent ) .
[ 3 April 2021, GoS ]  The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights counted the deaths of 172 doctors within the areas of influence of the Syrian regime as a result of their infection with the Coronavirus during the past 2020, and the Syrian Observatory documented them by name.
[ 20 May 2021, NWS ]  On 20 May, three buses carrying 35 families  ( 140 individuals )  displaced by local agreements left Um Batna in Qunaitra for NW Syria. The families received medical check ups and are now hosted in a new IDP camp in northern Idleb.
[ 23 Aug, Northern Syria ]  In other news, according to Al Souria Net, in Northern Syria, the number of cases of the new COVID19 continues to rise daily. This surge comes amid warnings by medical and humanitarian agencies regarding the outbreak of the pandemic in the region. On Saturday, the Idleb Health Directorate recorded 248 new cases, including 132 in Idleb. These developments increase the total number of cases to 29,769.
[ March 2021, GoS ]  In March 2021, the Government announced a local purchasing price for the 2021 wheat at SYP 900/kg  ( using the official exchange rate as of mid April 2021, equivalent to USD 350/tonne ) , almost double the 2020 purchasing price  ( SYP 425/kg ) .
[ 24 December 2020   5 January 2021, GoS ]  Diesel is the main household heating fuel in Syria; 48.4% of respondents listed their monthly need for diesel during the winter season as 200–400 liters, while 45.2% said that their households need more than 400 liters. Only 10% of respondents expected to secure more than half of their diesel needs for the winter of 2020–2021; 35% said they could secure a quarter or less of their needs, and 29.5% said they were unable to meet any of their diesel needs during that winter season.