nlp-thedeep/humsetbias huggingface dataset:
[ 18 August 2021, NWS ]  Around half of the households living across north west Syria report that they own the shelter in which they live  ( 51 percent ) , which is much lower than the national average of 72 percent.
[ March 2021, GoS & NES ]  In governorates where granular top dressing fertilizer is available, the Agriculture Bank provides almost a third of the farmers' needs, forcing them to purchase the rest of their requirements from the local market at an average price of 1 488 SYP per kg  ( 18 percent m o m increase ) . The selling price increased significantly in Deir ez Zor and Hasakeh governorates  ( representing a 47 percent and 38 percent m o m increase ) . The remaining governorates also recorded an increase in the average selling price with a 21 percent m o m increase.
[ overall Syria ]  Russian and Syrian forces were the main perpetrators of violence against health care in Syria in 2020, particularly in Idleb and Aleppo governorates. At least 56 airstrikes that damaged or destroyed health facilities were attributed to these forces.
[ overall Syria ]  At least nine health workers were arrested by Syrian ground forces in areas previously under the control of opposition forces.
[ March 2021, Overall Syria ]  Phosphate fertilizer is still available at the Agriculture Bank at a subsided price of 240 SYP per kg. Phosphate fertilizer is also still available in the local markets and the price reached 1 409 SYP per kg  ( 20 percent m o m increase )  in March.
[ overall Syria ]  In the north east of the country Syrian Democratic Forces  ( SDF ) , fighters stormed hospitals in Deir ez Zor, Ar Raqqa, and Aleppo governorates, physically assaulting and threatening doctors, nurses, and other health workers.
[ May 2021, NES ] Due to water scarcity and high costs of water, some households were not able to secure sufficient quantities of drinking water in NES in May.
[ June 2021, NES ]  84% is the regional median income that a household would need to spend to buy the SMEB food component.
[ June 2021, NES ]  Changing production cycles and reduced crop production levels have already changed distribution routes and essential supply chain mechanisms. For example, the transportation solutions previously used to transfer cotton and other valuable crops across governorates in Syria are increasingly infeasible economically and are either not operating or are severely hindered by political and military boundaries. Ultimately, the supply chains upon which food crops and their distribution rely are likewise reduced or even shut down.
[ March 2021, Overall Syria ]  The observations in March 2021 indicate that almost all of the prices for the fifteen food items monitored generally increased in variable proportions.
[ June 2021, NES ]  Reported problems with drinking water  ( by % of communities ) :  21%: Water tastes bad  15%: Water is calcareous  9%: Water has a bad colour  2%: Water smells bad  2%: Water perceived to be making people sick
[ June 2021, NES ]  Diarrhoea reported among health problems in the location  ( by % of communities where the interviewed KI was a medical/health professional ) :  30%: January 2021  41%: May 2021
[ June 2021, NES ] Given the decreased quality of water from existing sources and the necessity to gather water from less safe sources, people were increasingly exposed to waterborne diseases. Accessing health facilities to treat such diseases did not come without challenges.
[ June 2021, NES ]  Disruptions in water and electricity provision through the networks put at risk the functioning of health facilities that could not rely on alternative sources.
[ February 16, GoS ]  With low incomes – or no income – Syrians in government controlled areas are avoiding private hospitals, even after showing severe symptoms consistent with Covid 19.
[ February 16, GoS ]  Public hospitals are also not an option because most of them lack basic supplies and do not observe best practices. Oxygen canisters are in short supply and methods for treating complications from the disease are seldom followed. Beds have exceeded their capacity.
[ February 16, GoS ]  Parents said they would weigh up whether to put food on the table for their children or consider their need for treatment. “I was obsessed with the thought of dying if I go to a public hospital and in the meantime I couldn't afford the mind boggling bills at a private hospital,' said one of three mothers .
[ February 16, GoS ]  Her symptoms started with a mild headache and tiredness for five days then turned into fever, dry cough and a shortness of breath that lasted for 10 days. The woman, 39, resorted to social media. She joined groups on WhatsApp and Facebook that provide tips on the food and drink patients should consume every day to obtain the vitamins their body needs. Such advice is often accompanied by misinformation that can go viral: some believed women wearing the niqab, the face veil, were immune to the virus.
[ February 16, GoS ]  Such advice is often accompanied by misinformation that can go viral: some believed women wearing the niqab, the face veil, were immune to the virus. “I didn't have 1 per cent of trust in our public hospitals. I stayed at home and sought advice from WhatsApp on what to do. It was easier for me to quarantine at home, because I don't have children and my husband works for long hours away from home,' she said.
[ February 16, GoS ]  Despite this, testing capacity is highly limited and is not free of charge. A generic PCR test costs 120,000 lira – about $100. A single oxygen canister, depending on the size, between 20 and 40 litres, can sell for more than $200. If available, the canisters are free of charge in public hospitals and can be refilled if bought privately.
[ February 16, GoS ] Safaa avoided taking a PCR test when she developed symptoms along with her husband. They both viewed government activities to tackle the virus with deep suspicion. “Our health system is in shambles. The sight of the unhygienic condition of toilets and wards at public health facilities makes me retch,' she said.
[ February 16, GoS ]  But the consequences of delaying medical care can be serious, as was the case with a diabetic man who asked his family whether his condition merited the expense of a test or a visit by a doctor. “He resisted going to the hospital for two weeks until his cough became severe, then he experienced difficulty breathing,' said his son, 24. “We managed to get oxygen canisters, but his condition needed a sustained supply of oxygen.'
[ 11 JUL, GoS ]  The ministry also doubled the price of a bundle of bread to 200 Syrian pounds, compared to 100 pounds previously.
[ January 2020   January 2021, Overall Syria ]  The national average food basket price in January 2021 was 222 percent higher compared to January 2020. The increase is attributed to different factors but is mainly due to the continued depreciation of the Syrian pound in the informal exchange rate market as well as fuel shortages.
[ March 2021, NES ]  Access to Education Services: 28% and 64% of communities in which half or less of the school aged children accessed school in the last 30 days for residents and IDPs respectively.
[ 5 13th April 2021, NES ]   [ Retrieved from table ]  MEDIAN SMEB COST: FOOD ITEMS   267,750 Syrian Pounds; One month change: 1% and Six month change: 70%.
[ March 2021, NWS ]  Commonly reported sources of food for households other than markets  ( by % of communities ) : 55% own production or farming, 31% borrowing money for food and 27% assistance from local council or NGOs.
[ 6 July 2021, NWS ]  Child marriage was also identified as a key reason behind why girls in particular commit suicide.
[ Dec 2020, NWS ]  *Reinforced: underground HFs or Strengthened building structure for protection against the attacks 47% of the functioning fixed facilities rehabilitated or/and *reinforced.
[ June 2021, NES ]  % of communities where households did not have access to a healthcare service in the location nor in nearby locations: 83% Treatment for malnutrition.
[ June 2021, NES ]  % of communities where households did not have access to a healthcare service in the location nor in nearby locations: 79% First Aid/ Emergency care.
[ June 2021, NES ]  % of communities where households did not have access to a healthcare service in the location nor in nearby locations: 77% Paediatric consultations.
[ January 2021, Overall Syria ]  Households in Central & South Syria have the highest rates of reporting insufficient income  ( 87 percent ) , followed by Northwest Syria  ( 80 percent )  and Northeast Syria  ( 79 percent ) . 68 percent of households in North Syria report insufficient income  ( lowest regional rate ) . 32 percent in North Syria report their income to be sufficient.
[ March 2021, NWS ]  KIs in 65% of communities cited the high cost of fuel for generators as a common challenge.
[ 6 July 2021, NWS ]  "Many suicides or suicide attempts I heard about or worked with were females as a result of domestic violence," a female aid worker said.
[ Feb 2021, NES ]  As of February 2021, extensive gaps continue to be reported in the COVID 19 response in many camps, including with regards contact tracing, community engagement and the capacity of designated isolation areas.
[ 31 May 2021, NES ]  In the northeast, the low level of the Euphrates water raised the water turbidity rate to the fourth degree  ( NTU4 ) , officials at the central laboratory of the main drinking water station in Raqqa, northern Syria, said. NTU stands for Nephelometric Turbidity unit, as in the unit used to measure the turbidity of a fluid or the presence of suspended particles in water. The higher the concentration of suspended solids in the water, the dirtier it looks and the higher the turbidity is. The turbidity of drinking water should never exceed 5 NTU.
[ 5 13th April 2021, NWS ]  As in previous months, high quality transport fuels were reported as available  ( above 98% )  by surveyed vendors. The significant unavailability of lower quality but less expensive fuels  ( largely European fuels imported via Turkey )  forces prices for high quality diesel and petrol to remain high, driven both by increasing demand as well as by fluctuating exchange rates of both the SYP and the TRY against the USD.
[ April 2021, NES ]  KIs in 32% of communities reported a lack of employment opportunities for women as a barrier to meeting basic needs.
[ 4 January 2021, GoS ]  In war torn areas, such as Dara'a and Eastern Ghouta in the southern areas of Syria, where 70 percent of health and medical services are provided by UN led programmes, mobile clinics and aid groups, movement restrictions had a serious impact in terms of medical supplies. Cross border supplies were disrupted, making it impossible to meet needs.
[ 5 13th April 2021, NWS ]  Manually refined fuels remain largely unavailable in NWS due to low levels of import, caused by the devaluation of the SYP the Turkish lira  ( TRY )  against the dollar. Incidents in and around refineries further reduced the availability of manually refined fuels, according to REACH field teams.
[ 1 8 March 2021, NWS ]  MEDIAN SMEB COST   422,032 Syrian Pounds; One month change: 21% and Six month change: 85%.
[ March 2021, NES ]  77%   Livelihoods, most commonly reported overall priority needs for IDPs.
[ 4 January 2021, NES, NWS ]  With shortages of personal protective equipment  ( PPE )  in NES and NWS, the pandemic's impact is important. Medical staff are overly solicited and permanently exposed to high medical risks. Epidemiologists have warned the political authorities of a potential humanitarian disaster.
[ 5 13th April 2021, NWS ]  The price of manually refined kerosene, primarily used for cooking and heating, increased by 7% in price since March. This continues an 96% six month price increase since October 2020. The price increase is attributed to an increase in unavailability. In April, manually refined kerosene was reported as unavailable by 59% of vendors, an increase of 6 percentage points since March. However, LP gas prices remained stable with no change since March yet has increased by 98% since October 2020. It continued to be recorded as available by 100% of surveyed vendors and is much more widely used compared to kerosene, according to REACH field teams.
[ 30 June 2021, Overall Syria ]  1,160 trucks in June 2021, 9 consignments in June 2021, 44,812 trucks since July 2014 and 1,086 consignments since July 2014.
[ 4 January 2021, NES, NWS ]  IDPs in NWS and NES are living in densely populated camps with poor hygiene and sanitation conditions. Conditions are conducive to the spread of the virus.
[ 4 January 2021, NES, NWS ]  Health facilities lack qualified personnel, adequate infrastructure and essential equipment. Despite the lack of reliable data aid actors fear that the impact of Covid 19 is even worse in these areas than in government controlled areas.
[ Dec 2020, NWS ]  around 25 health facilities resume services in NW Syria due to the cease fire and decreasing in armed conflict in the area.
[ 5 13th April 2021, NWS ]  The cost of the regional SMEB food component decreased slightly to 283,725 SYP in April, a 3% decrease since March but a 66% increase since October 2020. The vegetable component of the SMEB increased slightly by 2% since March. This is mostly due to the end of season for tomatoes, which increased by 52% in price due to a switch to imports which are affected by crossing fees. Other vegetable components all decreased in price at the start of the Spring season, whereby cucumbers decreased by 9%, onions decreased by 13%, and potatoes decreased by 34% in price. This is also attributed to the appreciation of the SYP.
[ 4 January 2021, Overall Syria ]  The Covid 19 pandemic and protective measures put in place by authorities have caused psychological distress, fear and anxiety among the population. They are anxious about their economic situation and ability to meet their basic needs.
[ Feb 2021, NES ]  Increasing surveillance in camps, increasing referral for testing, and recognizing that there likely has been community transmission of COVID 19 in camps that was not contained through the previous strategies, new strategies need to be considered for 2021.
[ 5 13th April 2021, NWS ]  Bulk food prices also decreased by 7% overall since March, again attributed to the appreciation of the SYP. Salt decreased by 17%, tomato paste decreased by 13%, bulgur and red lentils both decreased by 8%, rice decreased by 2%, sugar decreased by 2%, all attributed to the recent appreciation of the SYP. However, bulk foods have increased by 61% overall since October 2020. They are rarely produced locally, subjecting them to import fees and fluctuations of the SYP.
[ 7th March, NES ]  The number of cases identified and confirmed through testing, remains quite low and this issue has affected the COVID response since the outset of the COVID situation in NES. Individuals across NES continue to avoid reporting their symptoms and seeking either testing or treatment, and instead have reported that they would either stay at home and self isolate or not change their behaviour if they had symptoms of possible COVID 19.
[ March 2021, NES ]  % of communities where COVID 19 risk indicators were reported:  48% Overcrowding reported as a shelter inadequacy,  63% Schools are overcrowded reported as a challenge for students who access education,  34% Health facilities are overcrowded reported as a barrier to healthcare access.
[ 5 13th April 2021, NWS ]  The price of bread  ( bag of 8 pieces )  also decreased by 5% since March, reaching a regional median of 950 SYP, although this is an increase of 58% since October 2021. Changes in bread prices are primarily due to a similar rise in the price of flour  ( 7% decrease since last month, but a 75% increase since October 2020 ) , a product which is in short local supply in the region, and for which import prices are dependent on fluctuating exchange rates.
[ 5 13th April 2021, NWS ]  Ongoing high prices were also recorded for other SMEB food items such as chicken, the price of which decreased slightly by 3% since March yet has increased by 92% since October 2020, due to a combination of factors including SYP fluctuations, the general high costs of transportation and poultry feed. For similar reasons, eggs decreased by 3% in price since March but have increased by 37% since October 2020.
[ 5 13th April 2021, NWS ]   [ Retrieved from table ]  MEDIAN SMEB COOKING FUEL PRICE   61,406 Syrian Pounds; One month change: 15% and Six month change: 109%.
[ Jan 2020 2021, Overall Syria ]  Even those lucky enough to still have access to stable livelihoods are suffering, due to the fact that salaries cannot compensate inflation rates and the cost of living reaches unsustainable levels. Under such circumstances, it will be expected that households will resort to potentially damaging coping strategies in order to achieve basic conditions of survival.
[ 5 13th April 2021, NWS ]   [ Retrieved from table ]  MEDIAN SMEB TRANSPORT FUEL PRICE   2,433 Syrian Pounds; One month change: 0% and Six month change: 87%.
[ March 10, Damascus ] Al Zaeem pointed out that hotel occupancy decreased in 2020 in the hotels affiliated to the ministry, as well as revenues decreased slightly compared to the same period in 2019 as a result of precautionary measures, especially the closure of borders with neighboring countries and the cessation of religious tourism, as the number of incoming visitors decreased by 80 percent.
[ March 2021, NES ]  Access to Health Services: 73% of communities where KIs reported that the households did not have access to health services in the assessed location.
[ March 10, Damascus ] The Director of Planning and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Tourism, Eng. Ahed Al Zaeem, explained in a statement that the tourism sector was affected by the Corona virus pandemic, especially during the ban period, as 1790 catering establishments and 370 accommodation facilities were closed at that time, and tourism and travel agencies and transport companies stopped working with tourist
[ 6 July 2021, NES ]  In the northeast, needs have risen more than in any other part of Syria, increasing 40% since the Council's decision to remove the vital crossing point Al Yarubiyah.
[ April 2021, NES ]  The high cost of goods and services continues to be a challenge, with KIs reporting access barriers related to high costs for healthcare  ( 87% of communities ) , food  ( 83% of communities ) , and fuel for generators  ( 48% of communities ) .
[ 7th March, NES ]  The number of calls registered through hotline A has declined significantly. In January 127 calls to the hotline were received and in February this number dropped to 55 calls. As the hotline is the foundation of the COVID 19 surveillance system in NES, the reduction in calls raises significant concerns around capacity to detect cases in a timely and efficient manner. As discussed above, there likely has been a reduction in transmission that means there have been fewer COVID cases that were in need of testing and/or treatment, it is likely that people may also be deciding not to seek treatment or report symptoms when they have contracted the virus. This includes a possible ‘normalization' of COVID among the community, impacting health seeking behaviour.
[ NES ]  To facilitate referral of moderate severe or critical cases to designated COVID treatment facilities. Hotline B was underutilized during December, but in January and February the number of calls received by Hotline B took an upward trend with 116 calls received, compared to only 71 in December.
[ April 2021, NES ]  Overcrowding in schools  ( reported in 62% of communities )  and overcrowding due to shelter inadequacies  ( reported in 55% of communities )  present additional challenges to containing the spread of the virus.
[ December, NWS ] • 33% of civilians reported directly witnessing or experiencing an attack.
[ April 2021, NES ] Intersectoral findings on unaffordability hindering access to goods and services:KIs in 34% of communities cited the high cost of water rucking as a common challenge.
[ 21 November 2019, GoS ]  The most recent salary increase occurred on November 21st, 2019, following two legislative decrees: the first decree increased the salaries and wages of civilian and military workers by 20,000 Syrian pounds, while the second decree increased the monthly pensions of civilians and military personnel by 16,000 Syrian pounds.
[ 15 Feb, 2021, NWS ]  Phase one of vaccination roll out for NWS in priority order of precedence will include health care workers, high risk population groups  ( with associated chronic comorbidities )  and other cluster frontline workers  ( depending on availability ) .
[ April 2021, NES ]  Most commonly reported coping strategies for a lack of food  ( by % of communities ) : 72% said Borrowing money to buy food, 68% said Relying on less preferred food lower food quality and 62% said Buying food with money usually used for other things.
[ April 2021, NES ]  Access to Markets: Not enough consumers to support markets in the assessed location, was the most commonly reported reason for why markets were not functioning  ( reported by KIs in 82% of communities where households were unable to access markets in their own location ) .
[ April 2021, NES ]  Access to Education Services:% of communities in which half or less of the school aged children accessed school in the last 30 days: 27% of residents and 68% of IDPs.
[ April 2021, NES ]  Access to Education Services: % of communities where KIs reported on the functioning of education services in the assessed location, 84% said In person, 0% said online and 16% said not functioning.
[ April 2021, NES ]  % of communities where COVID 19 risk indicators were reported: Overcrowding reported as a shelter inadequacy  ( 55% ) , Schools are overcrowded reported as a challenge for students who access education ( 62% )  and Health facilities are overcrowded reported as a barrier to healthcare access  ( 31% ) .
[ April 2021, NES ]  % of communities where COVID 19 risk indicators were reported: Washing hands less frequently reported as a coping strategy for a lack of water  ( 7% ) .
[ 7th March, NES ]  69% of calls to Hotline B Came from Raqqa, and 30% were received from Hassakeh and Qamishli, while Kobane, Menbij and Tabqa provided no calls to Hotline B over the course of the reporting period. Overall, the low levels of utilization of the hotline system underline broader surveillance challenges in NES, specifically the need for multiple surveillance mechanisms to more effectively detect cases including through sentinel surveillance  ( of ILI and SARI cases ) , mortality surveillance  ( underpinned by a central death registry )  and active surveillance.
[ 5 July 2021, GoS ]  Ahmed al Saleh, a member of the People's Assembly told local radio Melody that current salaries are barely enough for a few days under the current economic conditions. These low salaries negatively affect the purchasing power of workers, forcing them to work three jobs to secure basic living standards. Saleh pointed out that “the employees cannot pay for a doctor's appointment, so they replace the doctor with a pharmacist'.
[ April 2021, NES ]  KIs in 10% of communities reported a lack of privacy for women and girls at health facilities as a barrier to healthcare access.
[ 7 July 2021, GoS ]  The Ministry added that the total number of the coronavirus cases recorded in Syria has reached up to 25,735 till now, of which 21,867 have recovered, and 1,893 others have passed away.
[ 7th March, NES ]  Over the course of the response there has been little focus on PoEs by actors engaging in COVID response in NES. However as the number of COVID cases rises around the region, and spikes have been seen in Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon after the introduction of new variants into the communities, it would be of benefit for organizations to offer training of health staff at PoEs to screen travellers and refer for testing any person who is symptomatic of COVID 19 or has a high temperature.
[ 2nd March, 2021, SDF ]  63% of sub districts have sufficient knowledge of COVID 19 risk.
[ 8 March, NES ] The problem of securing bread has exacerbated in the areas controlled by the US backed Syrian Democratic Forces  ( SDF )  separatist militia in the Syrian province of Hasakah after this militia captured the public mills and most of the private bakeries, causing a crisis due to the unavailability of daily bread supplies for locals.
[ 8 March, NES ] The complaints of citizens in the SDF held areas as a result of the lack of bread increased after their life has been turned into a nightmare because they have to buy more expensive bread which will add more financial burdens in the light of the current difficult circumstances.
[ 8 March, NES ] Ahmad, a father of five children, told SANA that the bakery in the Ghuwairan neighborhood where he lives decreased its production dramatically after the militias forcibly seized it. Khaled, a resident in the Al Nashwa neighborhood, said that most of the private bakeries were closed as they haven't been supplied with flour after the SDF militia seized the mills, which caused a great shortage of bread and created a black market to blackmail citizens.
[ 8 March, NES ]  Fadel, a man in his sixties, said that he has to walk a long distance to reach the Al Hasaka Al Awwal bakery, that belongs to Hasaka branch of the General Company of Bakeries, because of the decline in the production of the bakery of Al Salhiya neighborhood where he lives and the closure of most of the bakeries in this area.
[ 8 March, NES ]  On his part, Member of the Executive Bureau of Internal Trade Satm Al Hweidi said that seizing the public and private bakeries by the SDF militia led to their closure after flour supplies have stopped, causing a sharp crisis. He pointed out that the three state run bakeries  ( Al Hasaka Al Awwal, Al Bath and Hamou )  in the cities of Hasakah and Qamishli continue to work around the clock to secure the citizens' need of bread in the areas under the state control.
[ January 2021, Ar Raqqa Governorate ]   [ Mahmoudli Camp Overview: No. of Individual: 10,277 ]  At the time of data collection, there was 2 open educational facility in the camp.
[ 13 April 2021, GoS ]  The situation is also severe in sub districts under Government of Syria  ( GoS )  control, where 96 percent of sub districts report insufficient testing provision, and a lower, but still significant 91 percent report insufficient quarantine space; 88 percent report insufficient isolation and monitoring space for suspected cases.
[ 7 July 2021, NWS ]  Aid workers told Human Rights Watch that non UN agencies have nowhere near the UN's capacity to buy supplies and transport them into the northwest. They said that shutting down UN aid supplies and ending UN funding would deny aid to millions of people.
[ 13 April 2021, NWS, GoS & NES ]  Complete school closures are now reported across 83 percent of sub districts under SDF control and across 3 percent of sub districts under GoS control, while all schools in NSAG & TBAF areas are at least partially open.
[ 29 June 2021, NWS & NES ]  As of June 29, only 17,500 Covid 19 vaccine doses earmarked for healthcare workers and only limited other supplies to respond to the pandemic have reached the northeast from Syria's capital, Damascus. No aid reaches the northwest from Damascus.
[ May 2021, Al Hasakeh governorate ]   [ Newroz Camp Overview: Number of individuals: 1,479 ]  Most commonly reported main sources of food:  From markets outside the camp 81%  Food distributions 78%  From markets in the camp/ 71%
[ 7 July 2021, Overall Syria ]  The Syrian government has long obstructed what is known as "cross line" aid, supplies crossing from government held parts of the country into non government held parts of Syria. Russia has been unable or unwilling to press Damascus to allow aid to reach the northwest and to increase aid to the northeast.
[ 28 June 2021, Overall Syria ]  COVID 19 response key stats, as of 28 June 2021:  Syria: 25,365 cases, 21,791 recovered, 1,864 deaths  NWS: 25,465 cases, 22,275 recovered, 707 deaths
[ February 2021, NES ]  Children below the age of 12 were reported as a group affected by child labour in 12% of communities. Hazardous child labour was reported as a protection risk in 11 communities
[ February 2021, Overall Syria ]  Compared to last year, the price of the reference food basket has significantly increased across all 14 governorates. Aleppo recorded the highest increase  ( up 282 percent ) , while Damascus recorded the lowest increase  ( up 192 percent ) .
[ 5 April 2021, NES ]  As of April 5th, the seven day rolling average of new cases surpassed any point since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, and the number of new daily cases is now 48% higher than at any point in the COVID response in NES.
[ 25th March, 2021, Overall Syria ]  Female headed households display a somewhat higher need for fuel and income generating opportunities compared to male HoHs. Meanwhile, very vulnerable households have a much higher need for rental subsidies, compared to vulnerable and less vulnerable households.
[ 25th March, 2021, NWS ]  In north west Syria, the need for both food  ( 75 percent )  and fuel  ( 70 percent )  is higher, compared to national levels. Indeed, the need for fuel is highest regionally, as is the need for safe water  ( 26 percent ) . Safe water is particularly important among very vulnerable households  ( 36 percent )  and female headed households  ( 33 percent ) .
[ 25th March, 2021, Overall Syria ]  Sub districts with highest number of HHs in need of food: % of HHs in need of food   Damascus Governorate, Damascus Sub District: 86%   Idleb Governorate, Dana Sub District: 95%   Hama Governorate, Hama Sub District: 95%
[ 25th March, 2021, Overall Syria ]  62% of female headed HHs reported health facilities as their second infrastructure need  ( compared to 47 percent of male headed HHs ) .
[ 25th March, 2021, Overall Syria ]  Nationwide, nearly three quarters of households across Syria  ( 73 percent )  are in need of electricity, while nearly half are in need of health facilities  ( 48 percent )  and bakeries  ( 46 percent ) . Public transport is reported as the fourth most pressing infrastructure need  ( 34 percent ) , while water supply networks are fifth  ( 22 percent ) .
[ 25th March, 2021, Overall Syria ]  Both female headed and very vulnerable households reported a notably greater need for hospitals  ( 62 and 57 percent, respectively ) , compared to male headed  ( 47 percent )  and less vulnerable  ( 41 percent )  households.
[ 2nd March, NES ]  The WHO's recommended levels of testing 9 should have between 10 30 negatives tests for every positive test, and in NES the positivity rate in February was near the lower bounds of this indicator, however in late February and early March the positivity rate has increased. It has been planned to increase the amount of testing, increase community based surveillance and referral for testing, and identify more cases through these systems, however if new tests are not procured then the laboratory will only be able to support the current ongoing level of testing for a period of three to four months. In addition to testing kits, there remain some critical shortages of certain diagnostic consumables, with the laboratory reporting.
[ 25 March 2021, GoS ]  The Ministry said in a statement to SANA that the number of coronavirus cases has reached up to 17,896 until now, of which 11,907 cases have recovered, while 1,195 have passed away.
[ 4 January 2021, Overall Syria ]  Restrictive/preventive measures had a negative economic impact. Most businesses reduced or suspended their activities, which had an impact on small jobs and daily wages according to interviewees.
[ 25th March, 2021, GoS ]  In central and south Syria households report a somewhat greater need for electricity  ( 35 percent )  and rental subsidies  ( 17 percent ) , compared to the national level  ( 33 and 15 percent, respectively ) . In terms of household characteristics, female headed households are in greater need of fuel  ( 68 percent )  and income earning opportunities  ( 45 percent ) , compared to their male counterparts  ( 58 and 40 percent, respectively.
[ 25th March, 2021, NES ]  In north east Syria, the priority needs deviate from the national pattern. While the need for food is most pressing  ( 54 percent ) , it is closely followed by income generating opportunities  ( 51 percent ) , rather than fuel  ( 33 percent ) , which is the fourth priority need in the region. Health is the third priority need  ( 48 percent ) . Indeed, both the need for income and for health are highest in north east Syria, compared to other regions.
[ 25th March, 2021, North Syria ]  In North Syria, there is a much higher demand for food  ( 76 percent ) , compared to other regions and the national average  ( 69 percent ) . In the same region, food is more frequently reported by female headed and income insufficient households  ( 91 and 89 percent, respectively ) , while very vulnerable households in addition to their greater need for food  ( 85 percent ) , report the highest need for rental subsidies  ( 25 percent ) , compared to other households.
[ 25th March, 2021, Overall Syria ]  The demand for electricity networks is highest in north west Syria  ( 82 percent ) , while the need for health facilities is most reported in north east Syria  ( 69 percent ) , where health facilities are the top regional infrastructure need. Similarly, in central and south Syria, the demand for bakeries is the second infrastructure need and is highest regionally  ( 55 percent ) . Water supply networks are the second most pressing infrastructure need in north Syria  ( 52 percent ) , where this need is highest regionally.
[ 25th March, 2021, Overall Syria ]  Regional access to services varies for example, northwest Syria reported the highest reported access to the top 6 services, while central and south Syria and northeast Syria reported some of the worst access. Specifically, markets  ( 84 percent ) , health services  ( 67 percent )  and education  ( 60 percent )  were least accessible in central and south Syria. On the other hand, households in northeast Syria reported the lowest access to financial services  ( 70 percent ) , safe water  ( 63 percent )  and legal services  ( 45 percent ) .
[ 11 July 2021, GoS ]  In a statement, the Ministry added that the total number of the coronavirus cases recorded in Syria has reached up to 25,785 till now, of which 21,884 have recovered, and 1,898 others have passed away.
[ 15 Feb, 2021, NWS ]  On 15 February, the WHO granted Emergency Use Listing  ( EUL )  for the AstraZeneca AZD1222 vaccine, The northwest of Syria has been allocated an initial 224,000 doses of the AstraZeneca AZD1222 vaccine and is tentatively expected by May 2021. Further data collection is ongoing of priority groups for the upcoming COVID 19 vaccination campaign, along with the development of the registers and SOPs and adopting training material for the campaign.
[ 25th March, 2021, Overall Syria ]  In north east Syria access to health services is the second lowest regionally; correspondingly, nearly half of households in that region report health priority need  ( 48 percent ) , which was the highest proportion regionally. Similarly, in central and south Syria, households reported lowest access to bakeries  ( 31 percent ) ; concurrently, the infrastructure need for bakeries was highest in that region  ( 55 percent ) , compared to other regions.
[ 14 June 2021, NWS ]  On 1 May, the COVID 19 vaccination programme for Northwest Syria began covering over 21,900 health care and social workers as of 14 June.
[ March 10, Damascus ]  The Director of Tourism Services and Institutions at the Ministry, Eng. Ramziya Utha Bashi, explained that the complete closure of airports in all countries of the world due to the Corona pandemic had an impact on their work, as the work of the tourist offices stopped, so that the Ministry would be active in the field of qualifying tourist guides and increasing their cultural experiences in preparation for the next stage.
[ 7th March, NES ]  Thus far data has been collected in 26 of 51 facilities in Deir Ezzor, 23 of 50 facilities in Raqqa, 14 of 54 facilities in Hassakeh and 18 of 39 facilities in Aleppo governorates. The first round of the IPC assessment covered 95 facilities, with the main gaps identified around sanitation  ( considered inadequate or basic in over 60% of assessed facilities ) , hygiene promotion  ( considered inadequate in 40% of facilities ) , staff training  ( at the time of the first assessment trainings on the identification of suspect cases/ application of the case definition were incomplete in most facilities ) , PPE availability  ( particularly for cleaning staff )  and regular screening of staff  ( not being done in over 50% of facilities ) .
[ December, NWS ] Half of Syrians surveyed reported feeling increased nervousness or fear as a result of attacks on health care. Over a third  ( 36% )  of those surveyed also felt greater irritability or other signs of stress. Nearly a third experienced loss of sleep or insomnia  ( 31% ) , feelings of depression and hopelessness  ( 31% ) , and nightmares  ( 30% ) . One respondent emphasized the lifelong impact of living in proximity to a community hospital: “We were bombed and my whole family suffers from extreme fear when they hear the noise of shelling. My children have mental illness due to fear.' In addition, a majority  ( 56% )  feared living near a health facility, with those having been displaced twice as likely to express this sentiment.
[ December, NWS ] For Syrian health practitioners, attacks have become a haunting feature of their professional lives. A staggering eight out of ten surveyed by the IRC have witnessed attacks on health care, with four being the average number witnessed while some have experienced as many as 20. Physicians for Human Rights estimates that some 923 medical personnel were killed in Syria between the start of the conflict in March 2011 and March 2020. 37 Among health care workers surveyed for this report, almost half  ( 43% )  know colleagues who were injured or killed in attacks. Syria was the deadliest place to be an aid worker in 2019.38 In one incident
[ 15 June 2021, GoS ]  "The rents are very expensive now and the demand has decreased dramatically. Rent has turned from about 50,000 to 200,000 for furnished homes   about four times higher than last year," Imad Sarim  ( former real estate agent, residents of As Suwayda, Southwestern Syria )  said.
[ 7th March, NES ]  As mentioned, supply challenges combined with the lack of an established pipeline to replenish depleted stocks has put a ceiling on the testing capacity. As a mechanism of comparison, in the Kurdish Region of Iraq there is currently an average of 4,706 tests being carried out on a daily basis, compared to 1,363 total samples collected in NES for all of February. Other challenge include social stigma around getting tested  ( or being visited by RRTs ) , a divergence of approach in some areas and the limited compliance among many health facilities  ( particularly private health facilities )  with regards the official procedures for reporting and referring suspect cases and utilizing Hotline B to report cases of COVID 19 where individuals sought treatment at private clinics. In practice, this means that RRTs are often not activated in response to alerts and subsequently no test is administered.
[ February 18, NWS ] Medicine prices in the al Hasakeh governorate are generally among the highest in Syria.The increase of drug prices in al Hasakeh amounted to roughly 30 40 percent more than those sold in Damascus, a pharmacist, who spoke on condition of anonymity, toldEnab Baladi. The pharmacist, who owns a medicine warehouse in Qamishli, said that several factors contribute to the increase in medicine prices. The first is the transportation fees of medicines paid to the Syrian regime forces held checkpoints, which amount to 1,500 USD per cubic meter of the volume of medicine cargo.
[ February 18, NWS ]  Shipping pharmaceuticals in a medium sized truck costs about 4,500 USD, according to the pharmacist. In addition, there is a fee, which is 1 percent of the value of each bill, that must be paid to the Kurdish led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria  ( NES ) . It sometimes takes several months for road shipped pharmaceutical products to reach their destination. Besides, pharmaceutical cargo theft is a major risk faced by truck drivers in road transport. Some medicines are damaged as a result of repeated inspections by dozens of roadblocks. All this requires a significant increase in prices in order to compensate for these losses.
[ 4 January 2021, NWS ]  Nearly 1.5 million people live in more than 1,100 camps and informal sites across NWS, most of which lack crucial infrastructure. With the economic crisis making it more difficult for people to independently access vital supplies, such as fuel for heating, IDPs are faced with a lack of cash to cover their basic needs.
[ 6 July 2021, NES ]  Needs in northeast Syria have grown 38% since the crossing was closed in January 2020.
[ 7th March, NES ]  Despite evidence of reduced levels of transmission in NES, there continue to be concerns that people who require specialized care are not receiving it. A sizeable 43% of deaths are occurring within 48 hours of admission, while 89 deaths  ( including a handful of cases outside of COVID Treatment Facilities )  were recorded among clinically confirmed cases who had not received a PCR test  this underlines continued challenges around late reporting of symptoms and late admission, with a significant number of people only reporting symptoms or coming to hospital when their illness is advanced. As such, there continue to be concerns that many people may be dying of COVID  ( or COVID related complications )  unreported, at home.
[ 7th March, NES ]  As the new variant has been found and confirmed in all countries bordering Syria, and as cross border and cross line travel numbers have increased by over 100% from numbers reported in the previous period, it is likely that cases of the new variant are in Syria, and as has happened in neighbouring countries the number of cases will rise in NES as well.
[ 7th March, NES ]  During the reporting period there have not been significant reported access constraints to partners bringing in COVID related supplies. NES Forum has confirmed that medical equipment and PPE have been able to be brought into NES without significant disruption.
[ 6 July 2021, NWS ]  When asked about why people commit suicide, 77% of respondents said it was due to severe depression and mental health issues, 67% said it was due to domestic violence   most specifically against women, 63% said it was due to financial hardship and/or loss of property, and 53% said it was due to loss of hope given the ongoing crisis and deteriorating conditions.
[ 6 July 2021, NWS ]  One survey respondent, when asked if he knew of anyone who had committed suicide recently, said, "A man, the head of a family, committed suicide because he lost his home and his livelihood when he was displaced, and he could not find a job or provide for his family.' Another survey respondent, asked the same question, said, "I know a case of a 16 year old girl with several children and her husband had died and no one is supporting her or her children… She is under huge life pressures because she cannot meet the requirements of her children and other living requirements.  [ This ]  led her to suicidal tendencies by cutting her hand with a blade…' “I know a patient with psychosis who hits his head forcefully as a suicide attempt. He is unable to get treatment because he cannot afford it due to the far distances of mental health centers and his inability to afford transportation costs,' one respondent said.
[ 6 July 2021, NWS ]  In the northwest, the removal of the Bab al Salam crossing cut off a direct gateway to northern Aleppo, home to some of the highest concentrations of displaced people. 1.3 million people live in northern Aleppo in the area previously accessed from Bab al Salam. 800,000 people – 62% of northern Aleppo's population – are IDPs.
[ 6 July 2021, NWS ]  David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, said "If the critical cross border aid routes are not renewed, more Syrian families will go hungry, health and mental health issues will rise and the COVID 19 response and vaccination campaign will be halted in its tracks, leading to greater unnecessary suffering.
[ 6 July 2021, NWS ]  David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, said "If the critical cross border aid routes are not renewed, children will be taken out of school and forced to work, cases of child marriage will increase to reduce household expenses, and the risks of gender based violence against women and girls would rise.
[ May 6, overall Syria ]  While the Autonomous Administration, controlling northeastern Syria, has so far received no shots, the opposition, controlling northwestern Syria, received its first COVAX facilitated batch of vaccines and the Syrian regime received the largest share of jabs, provided by the WHO or “friend' countries.
[ May 6, overall Syria ]  The first batch of Covid 19 vaccines arrived in Syria, which are part of the allocations the World Health Organization  ( WHO )  pledged to offer Syria under its initiative to support poorer countries in their struggle against the pandemic.
[ 16 May 2021, Damascus, GoS ]  The Syrian regime is still lying and concealing the real figures by announcing only dozens of infections and deaths on a daily basis. Large number of deaths are recorded as having occurred with “pneumonia' amid an outbreak of the virus throughout the Syrian governorates. The government contradicts itself by saying there not many cases present of the corona virus but by also declaring the Intensive care Units as full in Damascus, while the Ministry of Health has started the vaccination operations in its regions without a specific mechanism during the past few days as it called on those wishing to obtain the vaccine to register their information on a website.
[ May 6, NWS ]  Vaccination campaigns will cover the entire region north of Syria, stretching from Idlib to the countryside of Aleppo, doctor Marwan Qadour, SIG central room member, toldEnab Baladi. This means that the vaccines the WHO sent to northern Syria will be shared between the areas under the control of the Syrian Salvation Government  ( SSG )  and those run by the Syrian Interim Government  ( SIG ) .
[ May 6, NWS ] Qadour said that vaccines will be administrated through 93 immunization points set up in hospitals and health centers in the northwestern region. Jabs will be provided to targeted groups regardless of their place of residence.
[ May 6, NWS ] The first batch, consisting of 53,800 doses the WHO sent under the COVAX agreements, arrived through the Bab al Hawa border crossing with Turkey to northwestern Syria on 21 April.
[ 19 March 2021, GoS ]  Syria began a vaccination campaign earlier this month, but no details have been given about the process. The health minister said the government procured the vaccines from a friendly country, which he declined to name.
[ May 6, NWS ] Doctor Qadour said that the first phase of immunization will target health personnel and aid workers, while the second phase will concentrate on the elderly, people with chronic diseases, and workers in public affairs who maintain a high level of contact with the population.
[ May 6, NWS ]  Addressing recipients' concern over the UK developed AstraZeneca's side effects, such as blood clots and its age specific recommendations, Zahran said that the vaccine is authorized by the WHO and was re used after being “precautionary' suspended in some countries. He added that the immunization campaign in Idlib will be carried out “in the most favorable way' since there are no obstacles.
[ Jan 2020 2021, Overall Syria ]  The percentage of households reporting 'lack of financing' has increased over time  ( from 54 percent in January 2020 to 61 percent in January 2021 ) , reflecting an economic environment within which currency devaluation, economic shocks and sanctions have hindered both risk taking and moneylending capacity.