nlp-thedeep/humsetbias huggingface dataset:
[ 1st October, overall Syria ]  In total of the 4,730 samples processed as of 30 September, 29% of samples have been processed  ( and results presented )  the same day as sample collection, 67% within a full 24 hours  ( i.e. the day after arrival at the lab )  and 88% within a full 48 hours.
The widespread and exponential growth of Covid 19 in “advanced' countries compared to “developing' counties contradicts the conventional literature on social determinants of health  ( henceforth, SHD )  such as income, life expectancy, health system, governance among others.
Yesterday's decision will ensure humanitarians have access to the region for at least 12 months. It comes as the first COVID 19 case is confirmed in Idlib, a Syrian area close to the Turkish border
The aid is especially needed now, as the Syrian pound crashes, the impact of conflict continues and fears of COVID 19 spreading grow,' according to Concern's Regional Director of the Middle East, Bríd Kennedy.
Also, the number of containers handled by the Lattakia port in March stood at its lowest monthly level since September 2016. However, this is both a reflection of the impact of the Coronavirus and of the gradual deterioration in the economic situation in the country. In February the number of containers was already at its lowest since that same month. Unsurprisingly, restrictions imposed in Lebanon on banking transactions are having an important impact on Syria's import trade.
[ February 12, Homs ]  The Homs governorate has given merchants and neighborhood committees two months to resume their commercial activity and reopen shops after their rehabilitation, or the governorate will reopen them. The shop owners have been demanding financial support to return to their stores, as their business was affected over the past period. They need financial incentives to boost their capital.
On March 31, Nima Saeed Abid, representative of the World Health Organisation  ( WHO )  in Syria, said that the pandemic was taking an ascendant curve in the country and recommended an increase in quarantine and travel restrictions.
[ 13 APR 2021, NWS ]  % of SDs with majority of population in need of;   65 % Soap or Water,   63% masks and   63% disinfectant.
[ November 4th, As Sweida, governmental compensate ]  A number of the owners of tourist facilities in As Suwayda confirmed that the decisions to compensate for the damage caused to their facilities as a result of the government decision to close to address the Corona epidemic did not take effect until the moment, indicating that the closure was not their only loss in light of the set of decisions that coincided with the resumption of work in addition to the high cost All food and non food items, especially at catering facilities.
Most recently on 22 July, the Ministry of Endowments announced the suspension of Eid Al Adha prayers in Damascus and Rural Damascus governorates and all religious teaching seminars. However, Friday prayers and mass prayers with preventive measures are allowed to continue.
[ 11th January 2021, Syria ]  Health Ministry announced that 98 new coronavirus cases were registered in the country, and 69 patients infected with the virus have recovered while 7 others have passed away.
[ 11th January 2021, Syria ]  In a statement on Monday, the Ministry said that the total number of Coronavirus cases in the country reached up to 12,462, of which 6098 cases recovered and 781 passed away.
As regime authorities continue misinformation and keep the real number of deaths and infection cases with coronavirus secret, the Syrian Observatory continue monitoring and tracking the development of the spread of the virus in regime controlled areas. Hundreds of Covid 19 cases deaths are recorded daily in regime held areas, especially in major Syrian provinces, including Aleppo, Damascus and Rif Dimashq.
[ 29th September 2020 ] On the other hand, health authorities have recorded today 93 new coronavirus cases in north western Syria, which is under the control of HTS and Turkish backed factions in Aleppo and Idlib provinces.
[ 29th September 2020 ]  The death toll rose to 11 people. The breakdown of fatalities is as follows: an elderly woman in Al Dana town in Idlib countryside, another woman in Souran town in Aleppo countryside, a doctor in northern Aleppo countryside, an elderly man in al Bab, a 50 year old man in the city of Salqin in rural Idlib, four people in al Bab town in Aleppo countryside, a child in Idlib and an elderly man in northern Aleppo countryside.
[ 29th September 2020, Overall Syria ]  According to Observatory statistics, the number of confirmed cases, since July 9 to date, rose to 999, including medical staff and doctors.
[ 29th September 2020, Overall Syria ]  While 30 cases have been recovered in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of recovery cases to 492.
[ November 4th, As Sweida, governmental compensate ]  He referred to the exemption of contracted accommodation and feeding facilities for their investment that belong to the public authorities that have closed as a result of those procedures, and to add the aforementioned period to the investment period in the contractual text, provided that negotiations are held with the owners of the exemptions related to real estate invested from the private sector and belonging to popular organizations and professional unions.
Moreover, labour shortages have further disrupted the food chain, with many labourers returning from neighboring countries or urban centres to their original homes in rural areas, awaiting the restrictions to be eased and the risk of infection to be minimized.
WFP reached 1.3 million people in north western Syria under the July GFA distribution cycle. WFP also assisted 62,900 children with nutrition assistance.
The consequences are devastating. In just one week in August, seven children died, all under the age of five. We heard horrific reports of their mothers going from clinic to clinic in a desperate search for somewhere that was open.
[ 18 March 2021, GoS ]  The number of coronavirus cases recorded by the medical team has been increasing all over Syria since the beginning of March. About 16,000 cases were recorded in Damascus in areas under regime control, including 1,094 deaths.
During May, USAID/BHA NGO partners across northwest Syria provided safe drinking water to more than 904,000 people and supported solid waste management, desludging, and other sanitation services for nearly 789,000 people.
This brings the total number of the infections with the virus in the country to 3104, of which 715 patients recovered while 130 others passed away.
[ 24 March 2021, GoS ]  A member of the advisory team to confront coronavirus, Dr. Nebug al Awa, warned of the worsening of the already poor health situation, in light of the third boom of the virus. He noted that this mutation affects 50 cases at once and that its symptoms appear in children, unlike the previous wave that spread with the onset of winter.
A number of shop owners in al Jazmatia area stressed the importance of sterilization and maintaining spatial distances in crowded places, affirming their commitment to the preventive measures of disinfection
62 collective shelters have access to electricity, while 25 did not. 6,561 individuals therefore are without electricity. The availability of the electricity per collective shelter varied per type of electricity.
In Deir ez Zor, two COVID 19 cases were recorded in al Kasrah hospital in the western Deir ez tor countryside. One of them came from Raqqa city, while the other one came from the western Deir ez Zor countryside, which pushed the hospital staff to announce measures against the virus. Opposition outlet Deir Ezzor 24 met with one of the medical employees working in al Kasrah Hospital to learn about the latest developments with regards to the infections and procedures taken.
Meanwhile, Damascus Governorate launched Monday, a disinfection campaign covering all the city streets and neighborhoods, starting from Bab Musalla and al Midan areas aimed at enhancing measures taken to contain coronavirus in light of the increase in registered infections.
He added, “Al Kasrah Hospital lacks respirators, which are very important for the critical cases. It also lacks the necessary laboratory materials and equipment, knowing that the lab technicians were trained by experts on PCR, the device used to check the swabs. The hospital was also equipped at modest level with special beds for the quarantined persons. The infected people are quarantined at home unless there is a need to transfer them to hospital.
As of 19 October, 18,076 tests have been performed. Given the crowded living conditions across northwest Syria, a significant challenge in countering COVID 19 remains the difficulty of physically isolating people
Director of Homs Education department, Ahmad al Ibrahim, said that the disinfection campaign started today and it will last for one week and all items of healthy protocol related to coronavirus will be applied.
Health Ministry announced on Wednesday that 68 new coronavirus cases were registered in Syria, while 15 patients have recovered and 4 ones have passed away.
In a statement to SANA, the Ministry indicated that the total number of coronavirus cases registered in the country till now reached 2898 of which 661 have recovered while 121 ones have passed away.
Doctors, aid workers, and civilians, including in government held Syria, told Human Rights Watch that the country is overwhelmed, with hospitals beyond capacity, health workers facing serious shortages of personal protective equipment  ( PPE ) , and with many of their colleagues and relatives dying after suffering Covid 19 symptoms.
Of the 47 collective shelters where there is not enough heating, 31 of these collective shelters have various levels of damage and 15 of them have no electricity. Of the 24 collective shelters with no heating, 4 have various levels of damage while 7 have no electricity
The Health Ministry said that76 health workers had testedpositive for the virus as of August 21. A total of2,765 confirmed cases and 112 related deaths were reported byAugust 31, 2020. However, evidence suggests that the numbers across the country could be significantly higher.
[ November 4th, As Sweida, governmental compensate ]  He explained that the decisions also included exempting investors of tourist facilities that were closed as a result of the precautionary government measures from the local administration fees, including  ( service fee   alcoholic beverages fee   temporary occupancy fees for public sidewalks and squares )  from the date of the decision to close and until the opening of these facilities by the decision of the government team in addition to approval. On granting tourism establishments short term operational loans of 3 5 years and exempting tourist accommodation facilities from the fine for not providing foreign exchange data to the Central Bank of Syria, explaining that the loans and exemptions will be in coordination between the Ministry of Tourism and each of the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank to set the implementation mechanism.
Damascus, SANA – The Health Ministry announced on Saturday that 70 new Coronavirus  ( COVID 19 )  cases have been registered in Syria, and that 15 persons infected with the virus have recovered, while 2 others passed away.
[ 20th October NWS ]  The value of the SYP continues to slide; at 2,360 SYP per USD, its value as of 19 October is some 7.3 percent weaker than a month ago
[ 20th October NWS ]  The devaluation of the SYP intensifies the precarious economic situation and is worsened by the impacts of COVID 19 on communities and markets
Of the 83 collective shelters which have cooking facilities, 67%  ( 58 shelters )  where 12,329 IDPs live have extremely poor cooking facilities. 25% of collective shelters  ( 22 collective shelters )  where 3224 IDPs live have poor cooking facilities. 2 collective shelters have satisfactory cooking facilities, while 1 collective shelter has “good' cooking facilities
On March 30, the Ministry of Health announced the death of a second person from the Coronavirus, out of a total of ten positive cases, while the government added new measures to limit the spread of the virus. A third person reportedly died today in the national hospital in Hama, according to Smart News, an opposition outlet, although this still has to be confirmed by the ministry.
Key informants from 55 collective shelters reported that IDPs typically cook in their living units which is often the same place that IDPs sleep and rest in the evening. This lack of designated cooking space and further reports of poor ventilation   indeed nearly half  ( 22 )  of collective shelters with kitchens in their living area reported ventilation issues   indicates many people may be exposed to smoke inhalation increasing chances of respiratory disease.
Pro regime media sources revealed that at least three female employees who are affiliated with the regime's public radio and television had coronavirus. This news coincided with the announcement of the passing of the editor in chief of the regime's news channel
48 collective shelters reported having such capacity, and 39 collective shelters reported having no such capacity. Of these collective shelters lacking the capacity to store sufficient water are 8 unfinished or abandoned residential buildings, 6 schools, 4 poultry farms and 4 wedding halls in addition to several other collective shelter types.
The common use of firewood and coal as fuel sources is especially concerning considering the COVID 19 outbreak and its impact on the lungs. Women are predominantly in charge of cooking for the family indicating that they could be more exposed to smoke inhalation risks.
The source of potable water for the other 78 collective shelters includes water trucking bought by residents  ( 46 collective shelters representing 5,721 residents ) , nearby water wells/boreholes  ( 14 collective shelters representing 2,027 residents ) , water trucking by NGOs or other humanitarian agencies  ( 13 collective shelters by 7,019 residents ) , and the public water network  ( 5 collective shelters representing 901 residents ) .
[ 1st October ]  Transmission among health workers / at health facilities continues to have a very determinantal impact on health service continuity. According to updates provided by 11 NES NGOs, as of 1 October 8 health facilities were fully closed  ( including 2 mobile clinics ) : 1 in Raqqa, 2 Deir ezZor and 4 in Hassakeh
[ 1st October, Overall Syria ]  A further 3 health facilities  ( 1 in Raqqa, 1 in Hassakeh and 1 in Deir ez Zor )  were partially operational, having scaled back services to a bare minimum in response to COVID 19 related disruption. At the same time, 122 health staff working for 8 NES NGOs were in self isolation or self quarantine
[ 1st October, Overall Syria ]  In reality, there is high likelihood that the scale of the virus is in fact increase exponentially; as previously reported the number of daily confirmed cases is closely linked to case detection and testing capacity
7 key informants at collective shelters said they did not know whether water was tested or treated with chlorine prior to delivery. This lack of treatment and testing of the water was the most prevalent in 43 collective shelters where residents bought their own water trucking.
In September, 845 trucks of UN humanitarian assistance were shipped via Bab Al Hawa, compared to 176 in August and 21 in July – illustrating the increasing importance of keeping this lifeline open and accessible for millions of people in the northwest.
[ July 9   Oct 3 ]  According to Observatory statistics, the number of confirmed cases, since July 9 to date, rose to 1,190, including medical staff and doctors.
[ 20th October NWS ]  With the economic crisis making it more difficult for people to independently access vital supplies such as fuel for heating,
SA: As of 30 September, 4,730 swab samples  ( the majority from Hassakeh )  have been collected and transferred to the SA laboratories in Qamsihli and Tall Refaat for testing
He pointed out that the hospitals of al Razi, Ibn Khaldoun and Zahi Azraq and the private hospitals are still receiving cases of coronavirus cases, and certain sections of them have been allocated for isolation and providing the necessary health care for the patients.
[ 27th august North East Syria ]  Spread of COVID 19 across NES: As of 26 August, there have been 478 confirmed cases of COVID 19 in NESi.e. areas under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces  ( SDF ) . Of these, 370 cases are currently considered active, 80 have recovered and there have been 28 deaths
[  October 3 ]  While 41 cases have been recovered in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of recovery cases to 649.
[ 27th August Overall Syria ] This risk 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 and the concerning levels of transmission which continue to be reported among healthcare workers and at key health facilities
[ Oct 10, 2020 ]  Health authorities have recorded today 33 new coronavirus cases in north western Syria, which is under the control of HTS and Turkish backed factions in Aleppo and Idlib provinces.
The General Director of the Mouwasat University Hospital in Damascus, Dr. Issam Zakariya al Amin, told SANA's correspondent that since late August and early September, the number of severe and critical cases infected with Coronavirus, which have been admitted to the hospitals, decreased by 30 percent compared to last July, which witnessed a remarkable increase and the curve of infections became vertical and upward as there was an increase on a daily basis, indicating that the current decrease in numbers of coronavirus infections was preceded by a flattening of the curve.
After nine years of devastating crisis in the Syrian Arab Republic, vulnerable farmers and herders in rural areas still face several difficulties producing food.
Figures issued by the Ministry of Health on a daily basis on the number of infections, recoveries and deaths show a slight decrease in the number of confirmed cases recorded on a daily basis in some provinces in recent days amid information on the decline in the number of the coronavirus patients at the hospitals.
Moreover, very few households in targeted areas solely rely on humanitarian assistance as their only form of income. Rather, assistance forms only one part of household income. In addition, remittances in USD is one of the main ways in which people access foreign currency. While the scale of informal remittances is unknown, it is generally accepted that it is far greater than the scale of humanitarian assistance.
In a statement to SANA, the Ministry indicated that the infections' toll registered in the country till now reached at 2504 cases, of which 569 infections have recovered while 100 ones have passed away.
Damascus, SANA Health Ministry announced on Thursday that 64 new coronavirus cases were registered in Syria and 19 cases have recovered while 2 ones have passed away.
Distributing humanitarian assistance in TRY could impact stakeholders' perception of the aid organisation's political neutrality, particularly given that TRY is not commonly used by community members.
There is a gender differential in terms of accessing dollars. Women have relatively less access to USD, and thus fewer women pay their debts in USD as compared with men. Distributing dollars to households, including female headed households, may enhance women's access to USD.
On the other hand, the number of patients suspected of being infected with the Coronavirus increased at the hospitals in Lattakia province, as Dr. Siham Makhoul, Director of the Martyr Hamza Nofal Hospital in Lattakia, confirmed in a statement to SANA that it cannot be said that the curve of the virus outbreak has decreased, considering that the increase or decrease in the number of infections is related to the extent of adhering to the prevention methods, social distancing, wearing masks in the crowded places, and abandoning the prevailing social customs such as shaking hands, hugging and kissing.
Recommendation: Social media is widely used as a source of information, but is less trusted than health workers. As resources permit, increasing contact of populations with health workers may help to increase trust around COVID 19 messaging.
For the most part, women can freely access exchange offices and most community members  ( 96% women, 95% men )  believe there is no difference between the exchange rates that women and men get from money traders.
In the case of a pandemic, Lowcock et al.  ( 2012 )  concluded that SDH  ( namely less education and poor material conditions )  are key factors that were associated with severe pandemic H1N1 in 2009.
Damascus, SANA  Health Ministry announced on Wednesday that 52 new coronavirus infections registered in Syria, 13 cases have recovered and 2 ones have passed away .
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The Ministry said in a statement to SANA that the infections toll registered in Syria reached till now 944, of which 296 cases have recovered while 48 ones have passed away
[ 7th Feb 2021, Overall Syria ]  Health Ministry announced that 69 new coronavirus cases were registered in the country, 81 patients infected with the virus have recovered while 5 others have passed away. In a statement on Sunday evening, the Ministry said that the total number of Coronavirus cases in the country climbed to 14477 of which 8134 cases recovered and 952 passed away.
The main issue concerning market functionality pertains to the impact caused by SYP's depreciation on vendors' ability to re stock.
A concerted international effort was made to update International Health Regulations  ( IHR )  to enhance the coordinated global response to epidemics, with attention paid to highlighting the vulnerability of many developing countries in sub Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America in particular in terms of pandemic preparedness.They also highlighted the increasing probability of pandemics due to the expansion of global connectedness and environmental degradation during the last century  ( Madhav, et al 2018 )
Great efforts are being exerted by medical staff at the isolation department in al Mujtahid  ( Damascus )  Hospital through dealing with different coronavirus cases and full readiness to confront the virus, providing treatment for infections until they recover. One of these cases is a pregnant in her 30th who has recovered after one month treatment process.
Deir ez Zor: There is one SA supported facilitywhich is reportedly partially operational/ nearing activation  ( although it's understood that no patients have yet been received ) . Three NES NGOs also hope to activate facilities in the coming period but are facing delays in securing staff and receiving supplies
Within Syria, including NES, all relevant stakeholders have agreed to collect samples through 112 RRTs for referral to the CPHL for testing  ( in line with similar established mechanisms for sample testing ) . To date, 432 RRT personnel in 13 governorates have received dedicated training, including refresher training on COVID 19 case investigation, sample collection and referral, with further trainings planned at the governorate level in July. In NES, five RRTs are active in AlHasakeh, five in Ar Raqqa and four in Deir Ez Zor, while Menbij/Kobane is being covered from Aleppo. During the reporting period, more than 2,600 suspected COVID 19 cases and contacts were investigated within 24 hours of an alert being received.
A medical aid plane provided by the Emirates Red Crescent to the Syrian Arab Red Crescent  ( SARC )  arrived at Damascus International airport on Sunday evening to help in tackling the novel Coronavirus pandemic “Covid 19'.
Damascus, SANA  Health Ministry announced on Wednesday that 83 new Coronavirus  ( COVID 19 )  cases have been registered in Syria, and that 14 persons infected with the virus have recovered while 5 others have passed away.
In addition to the positive cases, over 21,653 people have been placed in medical quarantine for symptoms resembling those of COVID 19, according to the Syrian Ministry of Health. Of those placed in quarantine, 19, 906 have been released thus far.
This brings the total number of Coronavirus in the country to 1927 cases, toll of recoveries to 445 and the deaths to 78.
Damascus, SANA Health ministry announced on Wednesday that 62 new coronavirus cases were registered in Syria, and that 20 patients have recovered while 3 ones have passed away.
At all points of entry  ( PoE ) , the MoH has stationed at least one ambulance with medical personnel. To date, WHO has supported screening efforts by providing PPEs, infrared thermometers, guidance notes, registration forms and one thermal scanner camera. To reduce the risk of importing and exporting cases, WHO has developed a three tiered strategy to enhance preparedness and response capacity at PoE; including early detection and timely isolation of suspected cases among travelers; effective IPC measures; and establishment of multi sectoral mechanisms for preparedness.
The curfew, currently imposed every day between 6:00 pm and 6:00 am, has been expanded during weekends. On Fridays and Saturdays, Syrians are now banned from going out between 12:00 pm and 6:00 am. This comes in addition to the travel ban between city centres and their suburbs as well as between provinces. Exemptions are granted to allow some government and private activities to continue
To enhance diagnosis and prioritize increased testing capacity, WHO continues to support the CPHL in Damascus. Rehabilitation of the CPHL to establish a designated laboratory for COVID 19 was completed in June; in addition two airconditioners and two refrigerators were procured; two air conditioners and four refrigerators were fixed; and the laboratory generator repaired
To help track and limit the spread of COVID 19, 25,000 new testing kits were purchased by the KRC on August 5, raising the number of available tests from 5,000 to 30,000.
[ 4th October, 2020, Overall Syria ] Health Ministry announced on Saturday that 40 new Coronavirus cases were registered in Syria and that 13 infections have recovered, while one has passed away.
[ 16th ​March, 2021, SDF ]  % of SDs with majority of population in need of;   51 % Soap or Water,   70% masks and   72% disinfectant.
Since 2014, the UN Security Council has agreed to authorize cross border aid to reach millions of vulnerable Syrians caught in conflict through two Turkish border crossings. In the last several months, in light of ongoing violence and the devastating impact of COVID 19, those two same crossings   Bab al Hawa and Bab al Salam   have operated at maximum capacity, supplying almost 3 million civilians with food, water, and critical health supplies, including essential vaccines
[ 16th September 2020, Syria ]  The opening of a new border crossing in Ras Al Ayn dedicated to commercial trade has raised tensions among the various forces competing to control it.
In a statement to SANA, the Ministry indicated that the toll of coronavirus infections registered in the country till now reached to 3351, of which 780 cases have recovered while 143 ones have passed away.
Since the beginning of the crisis in 2011, ongoing fighting and widespread insecurity have continued to fuel large scale displacements, increase vulnerabilities and constrain humanitarian access across the country. According to the 2020 Humanitarian Needs Overview  ( HNO ) , around 11.06 million people in Syria require humanitarian assistance. Of these, 4.65 million people are in acute need due to a convergence of vulnerabilities resulting from displacement, exposure to hostilities, and limited access to basic goods and services. In addition to this, the global outbreak of COVID 19 has further increased the scope and challenge of the overall response and led to a significant expansion in multi sector needs all over Syria
[ 8th October 2020, Overall Syria ] In a statement to SANA, the ministry indicated that the total number of coronavirus infections registered in the country till now has reached at 4566, out of which 1212 ones have recovered while 215 others have passed away.
[ 23rd september Northwest Syria ] COVID 19: +3000 cases and 178 deaths in the Syrian Arab Republic. More than 600 cases and 6 deaths now recorded in NWS.
"Testing capacities remain very low so most cases may go unnoticed," it said. "Numbers we hear may only represent the tip of the iceberg." They also warned "the destruction of health facilities and the shortage of health workers dramatically imperil any response".
During the reporting period, the positivity rate – that is the the prevalence of positive cases compared to the number of tests conducted – increased to 5.9 per cent. As detailed above, the GoS committed to establish laboratories in all 14 governorates. The increased capacity and decentralization of testing, including in NES, continues to be a priority for WHO to support.
The al Yaroubiya entry point on the Iraqi border was shut after a UNSC vote under Russian pressure, causing an aid shortage to the Kurdish run Syrian region.
[ 1stSeptember 2020, Syria ]  As of September 01, there were 20 border crossings between Syria and Turkey, including many that were set up after the onset of the uprising in March 2011, according to the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs  ( OCHA ) .
Kurdish authorities have announced 478 cases of COVID 19, including 28 deaths in the region, but the IRC said rates were likely higher because of low testing rates for the virus.
[ 16th September 2020, Syria ]  Only five of these are fully open in the sense that they allow both commercial and non commercial travel. They are Bab Al Hawa, Olive Branch, Bab Al Salam, Al Rai, and Jarablus. Four crossings are partially open: Kassab, which is temporarily closed because of Covid 19 Kherbet Al Joz; Tel Abyad; and the old crossing of Ras Al Ayn.
On June 08, the government quarantined the town of Ras Al Maara in the district of Yabroud, north of Damascus, after 16 people tested positive after entering into contact with a truck driver who had the virus.
A school in Salqin however, reported insufficient space for both gendered sleeping arrangements and between households. This means women and girls of different ages  ( or unmarried )  may be sleeping in mixed gendered rooms with extended families or strangers, increasing protection risks such as gender based violence  ( GBV )  and sexual exploitation and abuse  ( SEA ) .
Nine years of war have battered healthcare provision across Syria, but the situation in the northeast is particularly critical as Kurdish authorities have been left to cope with the coronavirus pandemic largely unaided. This has raised fears any outbreak could swiftly escalate into an epidemic gripping the entire Kurdish region.
[ 7th October 2020, Overall Syria ]  While the Covid 19 pandemic continues to spread very rapidly across Syria, the Ministry of Education said that almost one quarter of tests conducted at schools in recent weeks came back with positive results.
The government received a second batch of Chinese medical aid this week. The Chinese sent dozens of small cartons that include masks, single use medical cloths, protective glasses, thermometers, sterilisation materials, and protection devices for medical personnel charged with dealing with the pandemic. The shipment seems modest compared with the aid donated to other countries such as Lebanon and Egypt, which weighed in tons.
Meanwhile, the National Fund for Social Aid  ( NFSA )  has started disbursing the financial aid promised to people out of work. Some 4,928 people out of the first batch of 20,000 have received the SYP 100,000 promised to each of them.
Humanitarian aid operations across Syria are reaching an average of 6.8 million people each month.
An explosion of unknown origin was reported in Ariha City during a joint patrol by international forces on 12 May.On 23 May, clashes in the same resulted in two fatalities.On 8 June, airstrikes in the Jabal Zawiya region of Ariha and Maaret Numan caused the deaths of two civilians, and shelling on 16 June caused material damage to homes
Since December 2019, GBV sub cluster members have distributed 113,622 dignity kits. Beneficiary feedback shows that the kits were critical for women and girls to respond to their increased need for personal hygiene products during the COVID 19 pandemic and reported satisfaction with measures taken by the GBV sub cluster during distributions to mitigate against COVID 19 transmissions
Protection risks resulting from the economic crisis continued to be reported across NWS, as well as reported threats from explosions or airstrikes in isolated areas. For about 1 in 4 communities reporting protection risks, the threat from explosive hazards was selected for both IDPs and residents. In Afrin sub district, KIs for 32 communities cited this risk, which is likely linked to the recently reported explosion in Afrin city on 1 June
Other protection risks reported more widely across the region were related to strategies used by households to cope with the limited economic opportunities in northwest Syria and the falling value of the SYP. Child labour and forced and early marriage were both commonly reported risks faced by children.
UN agencies, specific sectors and partners continue awareness raising activities during existing programmes  ( such as distributions )  and/or as separate initiatives
On Syrian TV, Prime Minister Imad Khamis said that the import of medicines, food commodities and oil products was ongoing, while acknowledging that Syria will face many challenges as it confronts the pandemic.
In an act of defiance, Syria's union of doctors announced last month that 61 physicians had died of the coronavirus in the span of just a few days. The tally released by the Syrian Medical Association signaled that the outbreak was already widespread, because reported cases among medical personnel often indicate a far larger number of unreported cases in the general public.
In June, communities in northwest Syria were impacted by economic instability    exemplified by the rising prices of medical supplies    and protection risks posed by armed clashes and airstrikes. On 9 June, the Syrian Pound recorded its lowest exchange rate to date, with 3,175 SYP equaling 1 US Dollar.
[ 7th October 2020 ]  Hatoun Al Tawashi, manager of the health directorate at the Ministry of Education, told Al WatanOnline that the tests were conducted among students and staff in 56 schools in Damascus and its countryside, as well as Homs, Hama, Aleppo, Tartous, Lattakia, and Suweida. Two deaths were reported: a school cleaner in Damascus, and a teacher in a school in Lattakia.
Since the start of the COVID 19 situation, UNHCR's crossborder operation for north west Syria has increased, prioritized and expedited trans shipments and distributions. To date, 77,500 non food item kits have been delivered; 86 per cent of the total target. For shelter, 24,800 tents have been transshipped; representing 56 per cent of the target.
Coronavirus Update: More Positive Cases as Idlib's First Covid 19 Clinic Opens 17 06 2020 : The number of Syrians who tested positive for Covid 19 in government areas increased to 177 this week, up from 146 last week.
[ 7th October 2020, Overall Syria ]  Syrian schools reopened last month despite the rapid spread of the pandemic and there are no plans to reverse that decision. Mrs Tawashi said that the ministry was working on closing the classes with positive cases, while Minister of Education Darem Tabbaa said that closing schools was not an option.
In Syria, in line with the less restrictive measures being gradually introduced by government authorities, community centres were authorized to re open at 30 per cent capacity, with strict guidelines in place to minimize the risk of the spread of COVID 19. Virtual briefings on the required safety protocols were run with UNHCR partners, to discuss the new measures.
Also, the Syria Recovery Trust Fund  ( SRTF )  announced on June 14 that it was allocating EUR 6.3 million to strengthen the health sector in the Aleppo and Raqqa provinces, and EUR 1.7 million for similar projects in Deir ez Zor. The fund will be spent in parts of these governorates that are outside government control.
The need for hygiene items as well as PPE for awareness teams to distribute during awareness activities continues to prove a gap for the majority of awareness partners.
[ 7th October 2020, Overall Syria ]  While the number of tests conducted was small, at 446, the fact that up to 101 generated positive results, representing 22 percent of the total, is a very alarming sign for the education sector and for the country as a whole.
[ 29th September 2020  ] In Syria, 4,102 laboratory confirmed cases have been reported by the MoH to date: 7 in Ar Raqqa; 13 in Deir Ez Zor; 35 in Al Hasakeh; 79 in Quneitra; 94 in Dar'a; 121 in Tartous; 142 in Hama; 145 in As Sweida; 333 in Homs; 360 in Rural Damascus; 423 in Lattakia; 964 in Aleppo; and 1,386 in Damascus.
[ 7th October 2020, Overall Syria ]  In a statement to SANA, the ministry indicated that the total number of coronavirus infections registered in the country till now has reached at 4504, out of which 1198 ones have recovered while 212 others have passed away.
The Syrian MoH has commenced active surveillance utilizing 1,932 surveillance officers across 14 governorates, who are in regular contact with and actively visit public and private health facilities to monitor admissions. Within Syria, includingNES, relevant stakeholders have agreed to collect samples through rapid response teams  ( RRTs )  for referral to the public health laboratories for testing  ( in line with similar established mechanisms for sample testing ) .
The public health laboratories in Aleppo and Lattakia, as well as Homs, have also commenced testing; to date, 38 cases in Aleppo and 10 cases in Lattakia and Tartous were tested. In the reporting period, nine cases were investigated in NES.
On March 28, the Ministry of Education extended the closure of universities, schools, and other educational institutions until April 16. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport extended the closure of training and technical institutions, as well as the rail link between Lattakia and Tartous, which is the only one that is currently functioning in a regular fashion. On March 29, the travel ban was extended to cover travel between the provinces, while it previously had applied only to travel between city centres and their suburbs.
When taking the average sleeping space per person, poultry farms  ( 3.4m2 ) , warehouses  ( 3.3m2 ) , unfinished or abandoned residential buildings  ( 3.1m2 ) , garages  ( 3m2 ) , medical centers  ( 3m2 ) , wedding halls  ( 2.8m2 ) , factories  ( 2.7m2 ) , temporary shelter centers  ( 2.5m2 ) , shops  ( 2.3m2 ) , public buildings  ( 2.3m2 ) , caravans  ( 1.8m2 ) , cellars  ( 1.2m2 ) , civil defense yard  ( 1.8m2 ) , yards/cellars  ( 1.2m2 ) , religious buildings  ( 1.1m2 )  all are below the sphere standards of 3.5 m2 per person.
[ 8th October 2020, Overall Syria ]  Health Ministry announced on Thursday that 62 new coronavirus cases were registered in Syria, adding that 14 patients have recovered while 3 others have passed away.
In terms of geographical distribution of issues with the sleeping conditions, collective shelters in Afrin  ( 56 complaints affecting 6,145 individuals )  and Salqin  ( 55 complaints affecting 3,956 individuals )  sub districts mentioned the most issues such as frequent interruptions to sleep, overcrowded, and cold and damp conditions.
At the end of June, UNHCR's partner opened one community centre in Aleppo governorate to primarily serve the IDP returnee population, providing a set integrated protection services such as child protection, case management, legal aid and services for persons with specific needs. The opening of the centre brings the total number to 126 countrywide. In addition, 11 clinics in community centres continue to provide medical consultations and 14 UNHCR run primary health care facilities Damascus, rural Damascus, Homs, Hama, Aleppo and Hasakeh are fully functional and providing health services to persons of concern.
23 collective shelters have toilets that were not functioning and unusable by the residents. 26 collective shelters fall below the emergency standard of 50 people per latrine. 10 of these collective shelters are in Afrin, 10 of these centers are in Salqin, 3 are in Mare'
The past few days saw several new measures adopted by the government: On March 22, President Bashar Al Assad issued a general amnesty to reduce the number of prisoners, although political prisoners were not included. On March 24, the Ministry of Finance extended the submission of tax returns until May 30. On March 25, the Ministry of Interior imposed a penalty of between three months and three years of prison and fines of between SYP 50,000 500,000 for a breach of the curfew. On March 26, the Central Bank of Syria eased the procedures to import key commodities and medical goods.
In Syria, at the end of May, the Syrian Cabinet announced that all public sector bodies would resume services as of 1 June, with full adherence to COVID 19 prevention measures
Since the start of the COVID 19 crisis, more than 43,300 medical consultations have been provided. UNHCR's response is closely coordinated with the health sector ensuring it is in line with the World Health Organization's recommendations and other partner services, and advocates for the inclusion of refugees in the country preparedness and response plans.
Of the 60 collective shelters that had a very poor ranking, there is an average of 76 people per shower, and of the 25 collective shelters that had a poor ranking, there is an average of 127 people per shower available.
Inside Syria, more than 11 million people are in need of aid and protection. As of 20 July, 522 laboratory confirmed cases have been reported by the Ministry of Health and 25 fatalities. Of the 4.1 million people living in north west Syria, 2.7 million people are estimated to be internally displaced.
Despite services in UNHCR's 130 community centres being suspended as of 15 March, nearly 3,000 outreach volunteers, including 250 health volunteers have been active in COVID 19 awarenessraising campaigns as well as sterilization and sanitization campaigns of public spaces.
In Syria, Sayeda Zainab, rural Damascus, an area which was locked down for about a month due to COVID 19, refugee needs remain high. UNHCR in cooperation with the World Food Programme and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent distributed food baskets for over 850 refugee families at the start of June.
In some collective shelters, it was reported that 122 women are sharing one shower, with 116 and 115 women per one shower also reported. For men, there are only two collective shelters exceeding the 50 people per shower standard with 206 men per one shower reported in one collective shelter and 182 men per one shower reported in another.
If applying the post emergency standard of 20 people per latrine 68 collective shelters would fall below this standard. 24 of these collective shelters below the post emergency standard are in Salqin, while 20 are in Afrin.
UNHCR outreach volunteers were present at the registration centre and distribution point to support with managing flows of people, verifying beneficiary names, delivering food baskets, and accompanying the most vulnerable cases. Meanwhile, most UNHCR partners in Syria resumed 30 per cent of their regular activities in community centres and started delivering limited protection services.
As of 15 July, eight COVID 19 cases have been confirmed in north west Syria, with humanitarian and health partners continuing efforts to mitigate against the spread of the pandemic. Contact tracing has been activated, and people who have been in contact with the individuals have been advised to self isolate and be alert to potential symptoms. Persons exhibiting symptoms are being tested for COVID 19. Precautions against a potential spread of the virus have been scaled up, including restrictions on movements, gatherings, and commercial activities.
In terms of maintaining the cleanliness of toilets, only 30 collective shelters have a system in place for maintaining the cleanliness of the toilets and latrines, while 57 collective shelters did not
If applying the emergency standard of 50 people per latrine per gender to these 45 collective shelters, there are 7 collective shelters which exceed 50 women per latrine, while only 2 collective shelters with gender disaggregated toilets have over 50 men or more per one latrine.
In total since the start of the COVID 19 crisis, more than 614,000 individuals have been reached though risk communication and community engagement activities. This includes nearly 120,000 Syrians as well as refugees in Syria reached through outreach volunteers, and more than 75,000 Syrians and refugees reached through UNHCR mass communication campaigns, among other activities.
In a press release, the Syria Recovery Trust Fund  ( SRTF ) , said that it had approved a package to support several health facilities in northern Aleppo with equipment, medication and consumables to prepare for a possible outbreak of the Covid 19 crisis in the area. The package includes medical equipment such as ventilators, oxygen generators and ICU beds, in addition to isolation and quarantine tents, medication and medical consumables for three months and protection equipment for the medical staff. The package also includes 5,000 hygiene kits and 600 tents to support internally displaced people, known as IDPs.
The rehabilitation of transformers in Raqqa to supply two of the area's main hospitals with electricity and the rehabilitation of four electrical transmission stations and five other electrical transformers to improve electricity in the city of Raqqa and its countryside. The budget for that project is EUR 846,000 with beneficiaries estimated at 300,000.
It is likely that the cleanliness of the latrines for the 10,394 people living in these collective shelters without a regular cleaning service is quite poor. Moreover, 38 collective shelters have latrines that are not connected to a water source, impacting a total of 6,367 IDPs
As of 19 September, the MoH reported around 37,000 tests have been conducted by the Central Public Health Laboratory  ( CPHL )  in Damascus and the public health laboratories in Aleppo, Lattakia, Rural Damascus and Homs
03 06 2020: A week after the government lifted most movement restrictions, the number of people who tested positive for the Coronavirus increased to 123 from 121, the number of recoveries increased to 50 from 41 and the number of deaths grew to six from four.
On March 30, the Ministry of Justice extended the suspension of works at a majority of its directorates until April 16. The government also adopted what it called a treatment protocol that determines the medication and dosages to treat confirmed cases of COVID 19.
44 collective shelters reported to be unable to lock the door securely, and few have individual rooms with locks – leaving them open to potential intruders, theft or attack. 28 collective shelters reported limited ventilation.
Of the collective shelters that do not have a management or cleaning service, 27 of them also do not have water connected to the toilets. 60 collective shelters have latrines that are connected to septic tanks or sewage systems, while 3665 IDPs live in the 27 collective shelters which have latrines not connected to septic tanks or sewage systems.
While 45 collective shelters have gender disaggregated toilets, 42 collectiveshelters do not. As this impacts nearly half the collective shelters, women and girls may be deterred from using the facilities.
In north west Syria, the UNHCR led Protection Cluster is concerned about the impact of the economic downturn on affected communities. The crisis, combined with the COVID 19 pandemic and closure of some commercial crossings, is especially compounding the protection situation of displaced communities, which already faced obstacles in accessing livelihoods.