nlp-thedeep/humsetbias huggingface dataset:
[ 10 June 2021,Overall Syria ]  One of the biggest shocks for the Syrian economy has been sharp devaluation and volatility of the informal SYP/USD exchange rate. For most of 2019, the informal exchange rate was around $US/SYP 694; but with the onset of the Lebanon liquidity/banking crisis, the SYP has seriously overall deteriorated, and at times partially rallied with extreme volatility. A record low was reported on 18 March 2021, at approximately US $1/SYP 4,775. Since then, the informal rate has somewhat improved and of late had remained relatively steady, trading at approximately US $1/SYP3,200 at the time of writing.
[ May 27, Aleppo ]  The dead COVID 19 patients are buried “in designated plots within the cemetery.'The price of a single grave was not more than 200,000 SYP before coronavirus hit Syria  ( 116 USD according to the exchange rate of the SYP against the US dollar at that time ) . Graves' prices in the local currency increase in line with an increase in the COVID 19 death toll. Prices of graves vary between the city and the countryside of Aleppo. Graves in the city of Aleppo cost at least 50,000 SYP  ( 15 USD )  while graves in the countryside cost around 20,000 SYP in March 2020.
[ 5 April 2021, Overall Syria ]  The public health system is fragile and requires considerable support to reinforce its capacity to support a potential outbreak of COVID 19. Only 57 public hospitals  ( 64 per cent )  are fully functioning. There is also a considerable shortage of trained staff and a high turnover rate, all of which reduce its capacity to manage cases, and of medical equipment essential for case management, including ventilators.
[ February 2021, Al Hasakeh, NES ]  Proportion of assessed settlements with KIs reporting the presence of child protection issues over the 30 days prior to data collection: Yes 71% and No 29%.
[ 10 June 2021, Overall Syria ]   [ same as previous report ]  An estimated 13.4 million people in Syria need humanitarian assistance and nearly 90 per cent of the population now live below the poverty line. With already limited livelihoods opportunities further diminished, in addition to the ramifications of insufficient, damaged, and destroyed infrastructure and basic services, it is likely many families will be pushed toward destitution in 2021.
[ 30 March 2021, GoS ]  The almost daily price bulletin updates do not keep pace with the large drop in the value of Syrian pound, which lead to a surge in prices.
[ 29th March 2021, Overall Syria ]  In general, the only COVID 19 mitigation measure which is broadly adhered to is home isolation for symptomatic cases – which is reported across the majority of communities in 47 percent of SDF sub districts, 32 percent of GoS sub districts, but only 6 percent of NSAG & TBAF sub districts  ( down from 11 percent in the last reporting period ) .
[ March 2021, Overall Syria ]  In March 2021, 15 percent of interviewed households reported taking children in the mandatory education age out of school in order to engage them in work and income generating activities to increase the household's income. This trend was more pronounced in AlHasakeh  ( 32 percent )  and Deir ez Zor  ( 23 percent ) .
[ January 2021, Overall Syria ]  The Regional Breakdown in % of food, fuel and hygiene: Fuel expenditure is higher in North Syria  ( 15 percent )  and Northwest Syria  ( 14 percent )  with Northeast Syria and Central & South Syria with 7% and 8% expenditure respectively, while food expenditure is lower in Northwest Syria  ( 50 percent )  and Northeast Syria  ( 48 percent )  with Central & South Syria and North Syria with 63% each. All the regions have lowest expenditure for hygiene with 6% for Central & South Syria and Northwest Syria; and 5% for North Syria and Northeast Syria.
[ 29th March 2021, Overall Syria ]  No schools across any regions are closed due to COVID 19 restrictions and the provision of other services i.e. bakeries, markets, financial and civil services etc. remain mostly available.
[ 29th March 2021, GoS ]  The situation is also severe in sub districts under Government of Syria  ( GoS )  control, where an even greater 96 percent of sub districts report insufficient testing provision, and a lower, but significant 91 percent report insufficient quarantine space; 88 percent report insufficient isolation and monitoring space for suspected cases.
[ January 2021, Overall Syria ]  The median value of daily per capita income is 1,934 SYP, which is correspondent to living on $0.66  ( USD )  a day. This is extremely concerning, given that this would be a daily income rate of less than half of what is usually considered as being in extreme poverty   which is defined as living on less than $1.90 per day. The median value of daily per capita expenditure is 2,407 SYP  ( $0.82 ) , which is equally meager, but outstrips the income rate, implying that individuals, or households, will have to resort to coping strategies to make ends meet.
[ 15 March 2021, Overall Syria ]  In the span of one year the number of people suffering from food insecurity has increased by 4.5 million, with studies estimating that a record 12.4 million people   or roughly 60 percent of the Syrian population   are now food insecure.
[ 15 March 2021, Overall Syria ]  A rapid rise in inflation over the month of February and into March has given Syrians no economic reprieve. The situation grows worse by the day, with some Syrians waking up in the morning to find their already small salaries have shrunk by another 10% overnight. The average government salary in Syria stands at 50,000 SYP per month, yet in the current economic climate this is barely enough to afford one meal at a restaurant or buy groceries to last a few days.
[ 29th March 2021, NWS ]  Mask wearing has slightly increased in prevalence, especially in NSAG&TBAF areas, where it is reported in very few communities of 24 percent of sub districts, in some communities of 7 percent of sub districts and in the majority of communities in Qourqeena sub district  ( under NSAG&TBAF control ) .
[ 15 March 2021, Overall Syria ]  For most Syrians, even small purchases are increasingly out of reach: A trip to a shisha house for coffee can cost half a month's salary and the recent spike in prices means a kilogram of lamb meat now goes for 29,000 SYP   an unattainable luxury for those struggling to make ends meet. For a country once considered the “breadbasket' of the region, the fact that everyday items are now so unaffordable reflects the severity of the crisis.
[ 10 June 2021, NWS, NES & GoS ]  Estimated operational costs for the first phase of the COVAX roll out are US $7 million  ( $4.5 million for GoS areas and NES, and $2.5 million for north west Syria ) .1 Additional funds of $101 million are required to cover operational costs for the remaining 50 per cent of the population required to reach 70 per cent coverage to achieve herd immunity. COVAX has only currently committed to supply the vaccine for the priority 20 per cent.
[ April 2021, Overall Syria ]  Overall four percent of interviewed households reported difficulties in obtaining remittances and/or food assistance due to movement restrictions in April 2021, with a higher proportion observed in Ar Raqqa  ( 12 percent ) , Quneitra  ( nine percent )  and Dar'a  ( eight percent ) .
[ April 2021, Overall Syria ]  The COVID 19 pandemic continued to negatively impact the labour market by disrupting income sources and opportunities. In April 2021, close to half of the surveyed households  ( 46 percent )  indicated that they had lost one or more sources of income over the past month, an increase of three percentage points compared to March 2021 and the highest level recorded since the beginning of 2021. This trend was higher among IDPs  ( 51 percent )  and returnees  ( 47 percent )  compared to residents  ( 44 percent ) . Additionally, more than a third of interviewed households at the national level  ( 36 percent )  indicated having lost more than half of their monthly income in April 2021.
[ April 2021, Overall Syria ]  More than 40 percent of interviewed households across Syria who reported losses of income also reported inadequate food consumption and 94 percent indicated having relied on at least one coping strategy in April 2021. Moreover, around 35 percent of interviewed households in Syria who had mentioned receiving the same or more income sources in previous rounds of the survey since November 2020, reported having lost one or more sources of income in April 2021. This figure was highest among IDPs  ( 54 percent )  and returnees  ( 31 percent )  compared to residents  ( 27 percent ) .
[ June 2021, Overall Syria ]  An estimated 12.4 million Syrians are food insecure, an increase of 4.5 million people since last year. This means that nearly 60 per cent of the population do not know what they will eat the next day.
[ 10 June 2021, Al hol Camp, NES ]  Given the parallel sample collection system in NES, in the event of suspected cases, focal points notify both the DoH RRT and local authorities for sample collection. At the time of writing, 102 cases of COVID 19 among residents has been confirmed, in addition to five healthcare workers and several staff. Sadly, 11 residents have died and 57 have recovered. Approximately 35 active cases are currently receiving care at the COVID 19 Treatment Facility/isolation center  ( CTF ) .
[ 30 March 2021, GoS ]  The Ministry did not act to find a reasonable pricing that would guarantee sellers reasonable profits, and buyers, reasonable prices. For example, the price of SYP 1000 for one kilo of gave beans barely covers half the cost for sellers, who resort to selling it at prices ranging from SYP 2,500 to 3,200.
[ 18 August 2021, NWS ]  Differences also emerge when comparing across the sex of head of household, highlighting the additional vulnerabilities of female headed households, who have much lower rates of owning their shelter  ( 39 percent compared to 52 percent of male headed households ) , and significantly higher rates of being hosted for free  ( 34 percent compared to 17 percent ) .
[ March, 2021, Overall Syria ]  Preferential treatment for those with cash or “wasta'  ( influential connections )  is reportedly common.
[ Jan 2020 2021, Overall Syria ]  Median monthly household income in Jan 2020 was $87  ( 100,000 SYP )  where as, Median monthly household income in Jan 2021 was $68  ( 200,000 SYP ) . And, Median monthly household expenditure in Jan 2020 was $93  ( 106,800 SYP )  where as, Median monthly household expenditure in Jan 2021 was $82  ( 241,500 SYP ) . Hence,   22% change in $ in Median monthly household income from Jan 2020 to Jan 2021, whereas  12% change in $ in Median monthly household expenditure from Jan 2020 to Jan 2021.
[ March, 2021, Overall Syria ]  Markets for oxygen tanks and other supplies have boomed.
[ May 2021, Overall Syria ]  The average selling price of herbicides  ( i.e. dusts, granules or wettable powders )  was 63 813 SYP per kg  ( 9 percent m o m decrease ) .
[ February 2021, Overall Syria ]  Most farmers have to rely on the expensive diesel fuel prices offered in the local market and black market to cover the unmet needs. The availability and subsequent price changes of fuel and other energy sources will be monitored as this may have ripple effects on various agriculture operations, especially for irrigation purposes in March and April months when wheat mostly need this service and could subsequently affected the productivity of wheat and barley, subsequently impacting agriculture production and even agro processing.
[ April 2021,GoS ]  Broken down by governorate, in April 2021, the highest proportion of households with poor or borderline food consumption was recorded in Hama, with nearly three out of five interviewed households  ( 57 percent )  reporting inadequate food consumption, followed by Homs  ( 52 percent ) . On the other hand, Damascus  ( 30 percent )  recorded the lowest level of inadequate food consumption in April 2021 which represented the greatest decrease compared to a month earlier  ( down by 17 percentage points ) . Nevertheless, Damascus had witnessed a three quarter increase from poor and borderline levels recorded in April 2020.
[ April 2021,Overall Syria ]  During the reporting period, 14 percent of surveyed households in Syria reported poor food consumption, a decrease of four percentage points compared to March 2021. This slight improvement is observed every year during the holy month of Ramadan as households tend to have better access to food during Ramadan. Despite this slight improvement, the level of poor food consumption remained at critical levels throughout Syria, marking a two fold increase compared to April 2020.
[ April 2021, Overall Syria ]  According to residency status, in April 2021, around 53 percent of returnees reported inadequate food consumption, an increase of four percent month on month. Moreover, the total share of IDPs and resident households with poor or borderline food consumption decreased by around 10 percentage points for each group from March 2021, reaching 52 and 37 percent, respectively, in April 2021.
[ February 2021, GoS ]  The Syrian government has allocated a specific quantity of diesel fuel for farmers in an endeavour to support the agriculture sector; yet, this quantity is not enough to cover the demand. The farmers continue to access fuel through a subsidised price of 180 SYP per litre. There was a significant m o m increase of 11 percent in the average diesel fuel price within the local markets, reaching 22 175 SYP per 20 litres. Dara' governorate recorded the highest diesel fuel price at 30 000 SYP per 20 litres, while the price in Al Hasakeh was 3 000 SYP for the same amount, indicating the lowest diesel fuel price across the monitored sites.
[ February 2021, GoS ]  The price of flour prices increased across most governorates with an average increase of 36 percent m o m. The highest price was recorded in Rural Damascus at 2 400 SYP per kg  ( 118 percent m o m ) . Aleppo also witnessed a sharp increase  ( 80 percent m om )  with the selling price reaching 1 725 SYP per kg.
[ February 2021, GoS ]  The average price of sugar increased 29 percent m o m in February 2021. Dara' registered the highest average selling price of 2 400 SYP per kg  ( 20 percent m o m increase ) . Tartous recorded the highest price increase  ( 43 percent m o m )  with Hama also recording a significant 34 percent m o m increase.
[ 18 August 2021, NWS ]  Illustrating the prevalence of financial barriers when seeking a place to rent, households who reported that their income was sufficient were much less likely to face difficulties in finding a place to rent.
[ 22 March 2021, Overall Syria ]  Despite humanitarian efforts, internally displaced populations in Syria, living in formal camps and informal settlement are at high risk as they generally lack adequate and reliable access to water and sanitation facilities and services. Women and girls' access to water and sanitation continue to expose them to risks of gender based violence, in particular because of shared bathrooms, lack of proper locks or doors and insufficient lighting at night. Water, sanitation and hygiene services are stretched to their limits in overpopulated communities. Returnees are facing difficulties accessing water and sanitation in their areas of origin.
[ 6 April 2021, NES ]  The central laboratory in Qamishli is responsible for processing PCR tests for COVID 19 across Northeast Syria and is critically understocked in supplies and will face stockout within one week. NES is currently experiencing a spike in cases that rivals peaks seen at any point during the COVID crisis, but if the laboratory does not receive support on RNA Extraction kits and other laboratory consumables, then within ten days it will cease operations. Without the ability to process PCR tests it will become impossible for NES stakeholders to track trends and understand the scale of the situation, or to confirm and identify positive cases for treatment at COVID Treatment Facilities, which are already overstretched and at capacity in some geographical areas.
[ May 2021, Overall Syria ]  The availability of cattle feed  ( i.e. compound fodder pellets )  was generally favourable and acceptable in the monitored locations, with an average price of 1 289 SYP per kg being recorded in May 2021  ( 4 percent increase m o m.
[ May 2021, Overall Syria ]  There was a slight m o m decrease of 13 percent in the average diesel fuel price within the local markets, reaching 27 828 SYP per 20 litres. Aleppo Governorate witnessed a significant price decrease in diesel fuel price for a 20 litre gallon  ( 50 percent m o m )  and the recorded price was 30 000 SYP per 20 litre in May 2021 from 60 000 in April 2021. Dará Governorate also witnessed a decrease of 20 percent mo m and the selling price reached 32 000 SYP per 20 litre. In contrast, Hasakeh and Rural Damascus Governorates recorded 16 and 15 percent m o m increase respectively. The lowest selling price of 4 625 SYP per 20 litre of diesel fuel was recorded in Hasakeh.
[ June 2021, NWS ]  46% of communities where KIs reported that no sewage system was present.
[ 15 March 2021, Overall Syria ]  Syrian reporter Njood Yousef has argued that the country's main problems are due to the lack of electricity to fuel industries that are still operating, despite the war. “The mother of the problems in Syria is electricity; no electricity, no industry, and no production. This leads to no provision of materials and no exports, which leaves no strength in the lira.' Most Syrians in residential areas experience power cuts of at least 12 hours per day, and in more remote locations and suburbs the blackouts can last far longer.
[ January 2021, Overall Syria ]  36% of individuals aged between 15 and 24 are not in education, employment or training. 19% males aged between 15 and 24 are not in education, employment, or training. 50% females aged between 15 and 24 are not in education, employment, or training. At the regional level, male Not in Education, Employment or Training rates are most critical in Northwest Syria  ( 26 percent )  and lowest in Central & south Syria  ( 16 percent ) . Female not in education, employment or training rates are much more variant: rates are critically high in North Syria ( 83 percent )  and much lower in Central & South Syria  ( 42 percent ) .
[ January 2021, Overall Syria ]  The median household expenditure is higher in all the regions for Male headed households. The highest median household expenditure can be seen with 271,003 SYP for male headed households  ( Northeast Syria )  and 256,500 SYP for the female headed households  ( Northeast Syria ) . The lowest median household expenditure can be seen with with 221,500 SYP for male headed households  ( Northwest Syria )  and 203,507 SYP for the female headed households  ( GoS ) .
[ 30 March 2021, GoS ]  In Qatana, southwest of Damascus, private sources told Sowt Al Asima that many members of the medical staff at the Qatana National Hospital tested positive to the virus. The sources said that the hospital administration suspended receiving new cases, including emergency ones, until further notice and indicated that the administration decided to quarantine all members of the medical and ambulance staff inside the hospital, indicating that test results confirmed the infection of many workers in the hospital.
[ January 2021, Overall Syria ]  The most frequently selected Household livelihood activity is the private sector, as selected by one in four Households across the country. This is closely followed by the public sector  ( 22 percent )  and daily labour  ( 19 percent ) .
[ January 2021, Overall Syria ]  Rates of household engagement in daily labour are extremely high in NorthWest Syria  ( 41 percent )  and lowest in Central and South Syria and NorthEast Syria  ( 15 and 17 percent, respectively ) .
[ January 2021, Overall Syria ]  Individuals are most frequently found living under the survival minimum expenditure basket in Northwest Syria, where 34 percent are critically below the Survival Minimum Expenditure Basket and a cumulative total of 57 percent are either below or critically below the Survival Minimum Expenditure Basket. The situation is relatively better in Northeast Syria, where a much lower cumulative total of 27 percent are below or critically below the Survival Minimum Expenditure Basket.
[ January 2021, Overall Syria ]  In January 2021, the informal national average price of transport diesel increased also by 12 percent while the informal butane gas price increased by 24 percent compared to December 2020. As a result of this overall increase in prices of basic goods, households' purchasing power has reduced substantially and the average household expenses exceeded the average income by an estimated 20 per cent
[ 24 January   25 February 2021, GoS ]  The School Health Department in the Ministry of Education  ( MoE )  reported that, since the beginning of the second semester on 24 January, and until 25 February, 118 new COVID 19 cases have been identified in schools in Governmentcontrolled areas, of which 97 are teachers and other education staff while 21 are students. This brings the cumulative figure of COVID 19 cases in Government controlled areas since the school reopening in September 2020 to 2,339, of which 1,440 are teachers and 899 being students.
[ February 2021, Overall Syria ]  Month on month  ( m o m ) , all 14 governorates reported an increase in the average price of the reference food basket in February 2021. The highest m o  m increase  ( 17 percent )  was reported in Quneitra, where the average cost of the basket reached SYP 137,508. The lowest increase  ( five percent m o m )  was reported in Rural Damascus, where the basket was priced at SYP 123,971. Idleb continued to report the highest average food basket price at SYP 175,724  ( up 16 percent m o m ) .
[ 24th of January 2021, GoS ]  On the 24th of January 2021, the Central Bank of Syria released the 5,000 Syrian pound banknote, this comes four years after the previous highest note of SYP 2,000 was released  ( 19 July 2017 ) . The Syrian government confirmed that it would be reducing the number of old lower value notes in circulation to compensate for the introduction of the new SYP 5,000 note. This measure is required to maintain a stable money supply and avoid further depreciation of the Syrian pound.
[  26 March 2021, NWS ]  Without teachers, schools cannot operate. Children who do not attend school are at greater risk of child marriage, child labour and being recruited and used in conflict. Psychosocial distress is also far more prevalent in out of school children.
[ June 2021, NES ]  In Aleppo, where water sources are more diverse, so too are the reported barriers, where lack of storage containers and high cost of water alternatives are reported along with insufficient water from boreholes
[ June 2021, NES ]  As demand goes up for alternatives like water trucking, the price will likely rise in response. Looking at pricing changes for water trucking from January to May, we see in Al Hasakeh a generally stable trend, with prices both rising and falling in communities, and most by less than 50%. But in Ar Raqqa sub district, where the piped water network is the main source, there were significant price increases in communities from January 2021 to May, which could point to further price hikes as more communities turn to water trucking in areas along the Euphrates.
[ May 2021, NES ]  In May, the most commonly reported coping strategy for lack of water was spending money on water usually used for other things  ( 54% ) , meaning households are choosing between water and things like diverse foods, agricultural inputs, and healthcare.
[ June 2021, NES ]  The most commonly reported alternative source of water according to a REACH RNA conducted in communities affected by the impacted water stations was water trucking  ( 93% of KIs reporting a secondary source ) , but 47% of KIs were not reporting a secondary source of water in communities.
[ 16 April 2021, Damascus, GoS ]  The Ministry added in a statement that the total number of coronavirus cases recorded in Syria has reached up to 20,856 till now, of which 14,594 have recovered, while 1,423 have passed away.
[ 5 April 2021, NES ]  75 confirmed cases have been reported in camps and IDP sites. Overall there have been 1,817 samples taken from IDPs and refugees out of camp settings, and 253 samples from camps. Among IDPs outside of camps 540 confirmed cases have been identified and registered.
[ March, 2021, NES ]  There is no unified vaccination programme across the northeast, and there is similarly an absence of malnutrition tracking and monitoring programmes, despite all the conditions for malnutrition being present in the region.
[ 5 April 2021, Overall Syria ]  This year, an estimated 13.4 million people in Syria need humanitarian assistance and nearly 90 per cent of the population now live below the poverty line. With already limited livelihoods opportunities further diminished, in addition to the ramifications of insufficient, damaged, and destroyed infrastructure and basic services, it is likely many families, including those who have over time depleted savings and resources, will be pushed toward destitution in 2021.
[ 5 April 2021, GoS ]  The MoH has also reported 691 healthcare workers have tested positive for COVID 19, an increase of 87 cases since our last report, including 30 who have sadly died  ( an increase of five ) . This underscores not only the particular and ongoing risks to healthcare workers, but – given Syria's fragile healthcare system with already insufficient personnel – the potential for its overstretched capacity to be further compromised.
[ March, 2021, Overall Syria ]  Pre COVID, the price of an oxygen tank was around 40,000 45,000 SYP  ( 14 16 USD ) . Today, the price has risen to 225,000 300,000 SYP  ( 78 90 USD )    almost double the average current monthly salary.
[ 25 March 2021, Overall Syria ]  Abu Kamal Al Quaem crossing is reported open for commercial and military movements; Ras al Ain border crossing is partially open for humanitarian shipments and voluntary returns. Abu Zendin in Aleppo remains closed, although reports indicate in practice, crossings do occur, including medevacs. On 25 March, the GoS announced the opening of Abu Zendin to allow civilian movements in one direction to areas under its control, in addition to Turunbah crossing  ( west of Saraqeb )  in Idleb and Mezenaz in Aleppo. All three crossings have since reportedly closed with no such movements recorded.
[ March, 2021, NES ]  In the northeast's Government held enclaves the Syrian Government has refused to adhere to HEA preventative measures at Government run health facilities, checkpoints, and ports of entry. Suspicion that this behaviour deliberately seeks to politicise the pandemic in order to destabilise the Self Administration is rife.
[ March, 2021, NES ]  Most notably, the Syrian Government refused to close Quamishli airport to passengers arriving from Iran, after that country became a COVID 19 hotspot.
[ March 2021, Overall Syria ]  Cattle Feed is the main challenge, which continues to affect the livelihoods of livestock keepers and herders, as it constitutes about 70 percent of the total costs for livestock production. However; the availability of livestock feed is fair to good but the exorbitant prices and continued price increases are significantly limiting access by most livestock farmers' production of fodder.
[ March 2021, Overall Syria ]  The continued depreciation of the local currency has resulted in volatility in the exchange market. The Syrian pound continued to slide in the informal exchange rate market and reached SYP 4 000/1 USD in March 2021. This subsequently resulted increase of agricultural inputs prices, further limiting access for vulnerable farmers' in some governorates, mainly cattle feed, top dressing and nitrate fertilizers, herbicides, and diesel fuel. There is still a need to address the prevailing economic hardships and limited access to agricultural inputs by most farming families across the country in a holistic and multipronged approach. Taking into consideration that the government's subsidized inputs are unable to meet the farmer's full requirements. These constraints were further worsened by the Covid 19 impact on supply chains, since importation and exportation of most agricultural inputs and commodities has been affected respectively.
[ March 2021, NES & GoS ]  In terms of poultry feed, the layers mash selling price recorded in Hasakeh governorate reached 1 700 SYP per kg, while Rural Damascus recorded the lowest selling price 1 150 SYP per kg
[ March 2021, NES & GoS ]  The availability of cattle feed for milk production was generally acceptable in the monitored sites, with an average price of 1 220 SYP per kg recorded in March 2021  ( 23 percent increase m o m ) . The highest selling price was observed in both Hasakeh and Deir ez Zor at 1 800 SYP per kg, while the lowest price was recorded in Rural Damascus governorate at 1 100 SYP per kg, Aleppo governorate witnessed a significant increase in the average price of cattle feed for milk production with a 46 percent m o m increase, with the price reaching 1 400 SYP per Kg. Cattle feed for meat production  ( i.e. compound fodder pellets )  was available across all the monitored governorates at an estimated price of 1 161 SYP per kg. Deir ez Zor recorded the highest price of cattle feed, which was sold for at least 1 800 SYP per kg.
[ March 2021, NES & GoS ]  The General Organization for Seed Multiplication  ( GOSM )  still has wheat seed in stock for 450 SYP per kg as an official price. The continued depreciation of local Syrian pound and the increase in the cost of wheat production, a change in the average selling price of wheat seed is expected to happen for the next cropping season since the government has modified the wheat grain receipt price for farmers from 450 SYP to 900 SYP per kg of wheat grain back in  ( month ) . This current context also left it is influence on local markets prices so the average of selling price for wheat seeds increased 50 percent m o m in March and the highest average selling prices were in Deir ez Zor and Hasakeh that reached 1 433 SYP per Kg with 54 101 respectively m o m increase. In Aleppo, the selling price of wheat seed recorded is 1 300 SYP per kg in March 2021  ( 108 percent m o m increase )  compared to 625 SYP per kg in February 2021.
[ March 2021, NES & GoS ]  The average selling price of bread went up in March 2021 to 148 SYP per pack  ( 1 percent m o m increase ) . The highest selling price of bread was recorded in Hasakeh governorate at 250 SYP per pack  ( 25 percent m o m increase ) . Homs governorate recorded a 21 percent m o m decrease.
[ March, 2021, NES ]  International agencies and their Syrian partners face a range of obstacles in providing support to the Self Administration, many of which can be traced to the closure of Ya'robiyah crossing, pursuant to UN Resolution 2504, in January 2020. The closure of Ya'robiyah resulted in a 30 million USD shortfall for the region's health sector and the suspension of UN cross border support via northern Iraq.
[ March 2021, NES & GoS ]  Homs, Hama and Tartous governorates recorded a slight decrease in the average price of sugar in March 2021, with a 4 percent, 2 percent and 2 percent m o m decrease being recorded in the mentioned locations respectively. The prices in Rural Damascus and Dar'a governorates remained constant from February 2021 and into March 2021 but Deirez Zor and Hasakeh however recorded price increases in the average selling price, reaching 25 percent and 20 percent m o  m increase respectively.
[ 8 April 2021, Damascus, GoS ]  Ministry said that the total number of coronavirus cases recorded in Syria has reached up to 19,761 till now, of which 13,549 patients recovered, while 1,342 passed away.
[ March 2021, NES & GoS ]  The average selling price of tomato increased across the monitored markets with the average selling price reaching 1 096 SYP per kg except in Tartous governorate where a 11 percent m o m decrease of tomato prices was recorded. The selling price of tomatoes remained constant in Aleppo since February at 1 050 SYP per kg . Tomato selling prices in Deir ez  Zor increased significantly from 883 SYP in February 2021 to 1 267 SYP in March 2021, furthermore, Hasakeh governorate recorded a 39 percent m o m increase, with a selling price of 1 333 SYP per Kg.
[ March 2021, GoS ]  The average selling price of potatoes increased significantly in most of monitored governorates with the average price reaching 867 SYP per Kg and the highest price recorded in Rural Damascus at 1 200 SYP per Kg  ( 50 percent m o m increase ) . Dará and Hama governorates also witnessed a sharp increase in potato prices  ( 65 and 38 percent m o m ) . On the contrary, Tomato prices remained constant in Aleppo governorate, with an average selling price of 725 SYP per Kg.
[ March, 2021, NWS ]  Numbers of suspected and confirmed cases cannot be published without the approval of the Turkish health authorities. Complaints have been voiced of extensive Turkish intervention and a lack of coherence in the response, with a high turnover of directors at Turkish provincial health directorates and reported competition between the various Turkish health directorates, leading to routine bureaucratic delays and requiring humanitarian actors to secure access “re approvals'.
[ March, 2021, NWS ]  The overstretching of services during the pandemic has severely reduced medical capacity for the treatment of non COVID cases, including leishmaniasis  ( which has reached epidemic levels in the region )  and malaria, as well as chronic conditions such as diabetes, tuberculosis, and high blood pressure. Systematic vaccination has stopped as a result of the conflict.
[ February 2021, Overall Syria & NES ]  The average selling price of bread decreased in February to 146 SYP per pack that is equal around one Kg  ( 11 percent m o m decrease ) . The highest selling price was recorded in Al Hasakeh governorate at 200 SYP per pack.
[ March 24, Idleb ]  “Teachers with a steady income will enter the classroom differently from those preoccupied with how to secure bread and house rent for their families,' Hashem said. He also pointed out that had there been an entity responsible for monitoring organizations' works and implementing projects whose revenues would be dedicated to teaching, education would have been better today.
[ 4 April 2021, NES, GoS ]  In Northeast, deteriorating, poorly isolated and overcrowded collective shelters are putting residents at a greater risk of COVID 19. Many continue to live in areas with high elevation and snowfall with inadequate shelter including Rural Damascus.
[ March 15, Al Hasakeh ] According to Malik al Sarhan, a sheep breeder from the southern countryside of al Qamishli, the feeding cost of 100 sheep exceeded 80 thousand SYP  ( about 20 USD )  daily for the fodder of an average nutritional value. This forced many cattle breeders to sell some of their sheep at low prices to buy fodder for the remaining sheep, al Sarhan said.
[ March 24, Idleb ]  The Education Directorate in Idlib could offer nothing but condolences to the deceased teacher's family. It failed to secure salaries and compensation fees for teachers, whose poor financial conditions left them with no choice but to resort to demanding, dangerous, and unusual occupations for certificate holders.
[ March 15, Al Hasakeh ] By the beginning of 2021, livestock fodder prices increased in the al Hasakah governorate, forcing breeders to sell some of their cattle as they could not afford to feed them. Ma'an, a livestock breeder from the al Qahtaniyah Subdistrict, who requested that his surname be withheld for security reasons, toldEnab Baladithat he owns 200 head of sheep, for which he bought fodder at the cost of 800 Syrian pounds  ( SYP )  per kilogram from local merchants. This price is more than the doubled price of subsidized fodder promised by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria  ( AANES )  without implementation.
[ March 15, Al Hasakeh ]  “We do not have new statistics on livestock fodder. The feedstuffs problem was caused by drought this year,' the Joint head of the Agriculture and Livestock Establishment of the AANES in al Malikiyah city, Bashir Hamza, told local radio stationArta FM, on 23 February. According to Hamza, the fodder amount allocated to each livestock farmer of the subsidized feedstuffs is 10 kilograms of bran grains for sheep and goats and 50 kilograms for cows, buffaloes, camels, and horses.
[ March 24, Idleb ]  The Director of the Basic Education Department in Idlib, Mahmoud al Basha, highlighted the fact that the lack of funding is affecting the quality of education. He added that when teachers get paid for their work, they exert more serious efforts and seek further tasks to perform; however, “volunteer teachers cannot be expected to be at the same level'.
[ 31 March 2021, GoS ]  With the SYP climbing, the prices of imported goods have substantially risen in southern Syria, creating secondary and tertiary economic impacts across the region. Prices for commodities in southern Syria and beyond have continued rising, and households and communities have struggled to obtain basic necessities. These challenges have also been compounded by a decline in remittances   in part a result of the ongoing COVID 19 crisis and in part due to the GoS targeting unregistered hawala offices and charging high transfer fees.
[ March 24, Idleb ]  Al Basha mentioned that there are 20,000 teachers in the region, including 5,500 volunteer teachers. More than 60 organizations support education in Idlib governorate, leading to disparities in teachers' wages depending on the funding provided by supporting organizations, al Basha said.
[ March 24, Idleb ]  The Education Directorate's supervisor in Hama, Khaled al Fares, toldEnab Baladithat the lack of financial support had a “substantial negative impact' on the educational process. Teachers are being forced to abandon teaching and go after alternative jobs to fend for their families.
[ March 24, Idleb ]  According to al Fares, the reason behind the lack of organizations' funding for education in Idlib is that support has been diverted to other projects in fields such as health, maintaining infrastructure services, and relief works. The organizations' financial support covers only 20% of the region's educational needs.
[ March 24, Idleb ]  Activists and some residents carried out community based initiatives in a number of cities and towns in Idlib governorate to support teachers financially and secure their salaries, fearing that they would leave their jobs under financial pressure. The initiatives raised money from local residents and expatriates to support education funds in those areas.
[ March, 2021, NWS ]  Meanwhile, severe lack of regular water access, severe shortages in the availability of soap and disinfectants, widespread malnutrition, exposed and unsafe sanitation networks, and overcrowding in camps   combined with the dire socioeconomic situation and the absence of “lockdown viability' for most residents   provide ideal conditions for the widespread transmission of COVID 19, as well as waterborne diseases such as diarrhea.
[ February 2021, GoS ]  The cow milk selling price increased in Homs, Hasakeh and Rural Damascus governorates  ( 14, 11 and 10 percent m o m increase respectively )  and remained the same of January price in Deir ez Zor and Dara' governorates. The average selling price reached 909 SYP per litre across the eight monitored governorates with the highest price of 10 000 SYP being recorded in Rural Damascus.
[ 7th 14th June, NES ]  MEDIAN PRICE OF COVID 19 ITEMS Trash bags  ( roll of 30 ) : 3,750 SYP
[ 7th April, 2021, GoS ]  Discussions with the COVAX organization led to an agreement to vaccinate 20 percent of Syrians with the coronavirus vaccine, and the vaccines are supposed to arrive during the coming month, the Directorate of communicable and chronic diseases in the Syrian Ministry of Health, Jamal Khamis, reported.
[ 31 March 2021, GoS ]  The Ministry said that the number of coronavirus infections recorded in Syria has reached up to 18,775 until now, of which 12,610 cases have recovered, while 1,254 have passed away.
[ March, 2021, Overall Syria ]  Since August 2020, the Government of Syria has allocated 19 private laboratories to provide PCR testing for outbound travelers who can provide proof of travel. The cost of a test has been set at 127,000 SYP  ( approx. $37 ) , though there are reports of customers receiving same day results by paying more than three times that amount. The Ministry of Health itself has seemed to recognise the emergence of new avenues of exploitation, declaring in August that some Ministry of Health workers were extorting citizens seeking PCR tests.
[ 7th April, 2021, GoS ]  Syria has been witnessing a remarkable rise in the number of coronavirus cases, despite the government statements of a lack of infections through official media outlets. The number of coronavirus cases in government held areas has reached 19,526, including 1,323 deaths, and 13,316 recoveries, according to the statistics of the Ministry of Health.
[ Syria, July ]  Close to half of the surveyed households  ( 46 percent )  at national level reported poor or borderline food consumption in July 2021, marking a 15 percent increase in food insecurity levels compared to July 2020. Despite the Eid El Adha festivities during July, overall 56 percent of surveyed households in Syria indicated consuming animal source protein less than twice a week.
[ 2 April 2021, GoS ]  The gasoline crisis opens the gates of bribery. In a fuel station near the Agriculture building in Al Midan neighborhood in the city, an officer responsible for organizing the role at the station receives an amount estimated at 35,000 Syrian pounds in exchange for 40 liters of gasoline, which makes citizens have two options: either pay the bribe or wait for days.
[ February 2021, Overall Syria ]  The observations in February 2021 indicate that almost all of the prices for the fifteen food items' monitored generally increased in variable proportions. Sunflower recorded the highest price increase compared to the prices in January 2021 with an average selling price 7 474 for 1 L, followed by flour and then chicken meat with an average selling price up to 1 442 for 1 Kg.
[ March 2021, NWS ]  % of communities where winter related shelter inadequacies for residents and IDPs were reported: 43% residents and 55% IDPs reported lack of heating, 38% residents and 50% IDPs report Lack of insulation from the cold and 6% IDPs reported shelters prone to flooding.
[ March 2021, NWS ]  % of communities where COVID 19 risk indicators were reported: 47% Overcrowding reported as a shelter inadequacy, 59% Schools are overcrowded reported as a challenge for students who access education and 44% Health facilities are overcrowded reported as a barrier to healthcare access.
[ February 2021, Deir ez Zor, NES ]  Many KIs reported that local authorities and settlement residents are taking steps to limit possible exposure to the disease, and that social distancing has been promoted as a prevention measure. The data suggests that, in practice, social distancing is difficult to implement; use of communal latrines and bathing facilities indicates potentially crowded living conditions. In 43% of assessed settlements, it was reported that only a few or no residents were engaging in social distancing.
[ March 2021, NWS ]  KIs in 55% of communities reported a lack of employment opportunities for women as a barrier to meeting basic needs.
[ 3 April 2021, NES ]  Based on the meeting of the Crisis Cell in the Executive Council of North and East Syria, and based on the requirements of In the public interest, the co presidency of the Executive Council of North and East Syria decided the following: The wearing of a muzzle is imposed on all citizens and in all places, subject to the imposition of the previously determined financial fine of one thousand pounds for anyone who violates this.
[ March 2021, NWS ]  KIs in 43% of communities reported a lack of employment opportunities for persons with a disability as a barrier to meeting basic needs.
[ 3 April 2021, NES ]  Based on the meeting of the Crisis Cell in the Executive Council of North and East Syria, and based on the requirements of In the public interest, the co presidency of the Executive Council of North and East Syria decided the following: Close all schools, universities and institutes. Closure of border crossings in the northern and eastern regions of Syria, except for humanitarian cases, patients, students, and commercial movement.
[ 3 April 2021, GoS ]  According to the latest Syrian Observatory statistics obtained from reliable medical sources within the regime forces' control areas, the number of people infected with the "Covid 19" virus reached about 659,900 thousand confirmed infections, of which more than 401 thousand recovered, while 21,184 people died.
[ February 2021, GoS ]  The average selling price for tomato slightly decreased across the monitored markets with the average selling price reaching 987 SYP per kg. This slight decrease could be attributed to decrease in demand according to prioritisation process that followed by families to cover their basic of food needs and the fund limitation factor . The selling price of tomatoes reached 1 050 SYP per kg in Aleppo, highlighting an 18 percent m o m decrease ) . Tomato selling prices in Rural Damascus remained constant in February at 1 000 SYP per Kg. In Deir ez Zor, the selling price of tomato decreased from 1000 SYP in January 2021 to 883 SYP in February 2021. The average selling price of potatoes remained stable in February 2021; with a price of 661 SYP per Kg recorded in Rural Damascus. Hasakeh and Deir ez Zor governorates recorded a decrease in potato prices  ( 20 and 11 percent m o m ) . On the contrary, a 34 percent m o m increase was observed in Tartous governorate, with an average selling price of 650 SYP per Kg.
[ March 2021, NWS ]  Children below the age of 12 were reported as a group affected by child labour in 14% of communities.
[ 30 April 2021, NES ]  The total toll of coronavirus infections in AANES has come up to 15,796, including 571 deaths and 1,606 recoveries.
[ 9 APR 2021, NWS ]  Out of 4.4. million people in the North West region alone, 3.3 million are food insecure, including 2.7 million who have been internally displaced due to the conflict. Of these, 1.6 million are living in camps and are completely dependent on humanitarian assistance. They are highly vulnerable, and their cramped living conditions make it easier for COVID 19 to circulate.
[ June 2021, NES ]  Reduction of electricity access has already been reported in the northeast, likely due to rationing of electricity by the NES Self Administration  ( SA ) , and conflict affecting electricity networks this winter in the Tel Tamer area.
[ 2 April 2021 Damascus, GoS ]  The government has recorded 19,000 COVID 19 cases, including more than 1,200 deaths, in the two thirds of war battered Syria under its control.
[ 2 April 2021 Damascus, GoS ]  More than 650 health workers have contracted the virus, including 29 who have died, the World Health Organization and the OCHA said in a joint statement last month, warning that it has further compromised the “overstretched capacity' of Syria's “fragile healthcare system'.
[ 6 April 2021, NES ]  In March, as cases surged in NES, the number of NGO supported COVID Treatment Facilities  ( CTFs )  and Rapid Response Teams  ( RRTs )  reduced drastically, and organizations struggled to maintain funding to continue services. Seven CTFs ceased operations in March and a further six may end support at the end of April. Of the current 821 beds in CTFs, only 346 will have funding by May 1st, which will be unable to provide treatment to the current caseload, considering that over 500 individuals were admitted into CTFs in the past week.
[ 6 April 2021, NES ]  Overall, 54.6% of lab confirmed COVID 19 cases have been recorded amongst men, compared to 45.4% among women. In terms of the age break down of cases in March, individuals over 60 years of age made up 24% of cases reported but 58% of deaths in the same period. The number of deaths reported in the 40 49 cohort was unusually high during the month, making up 21% of March deaths, in comparison to 7% of overall deaths in the past year.