nlp-thedeep/humsetbias huggingface dataset:
In Deir Ez Zor, IMC in collaboration with SARC, went door to door to 889 households to provide awareness raising, including on symptoms and preventive measures.
In May, the Health sector reported supporting 759,802 medical procedures and 262,015 treatment courses. UNRWA has reported resuming health services in recent weeks, although this remains under review should circumstances necessitate. UNFPA also continues to provide maternal and neonatal health services and GBV prevention and response services, with 240,343 people receiving reproductive health, awareness raising, and MHPSS since March. In addition, UNICEF report that regular nutrition programmes have resumed, including in Al Hol camp.
In addition, UNICEF supported a mine risk education and COVID 19 campaign in Areesha camp, including the training of 65 community volunteers.
Since the last update, humanitarian actors have also received unverified reports concerning additional possible cases, and information indicating that in some areas, existing healthcare facilities have been unable to absorb all suspected cases and/or healthcare facilities are suspending surgeries or adapting wards to accommodate increased numbers of COVID 19 patients
Over populated sites and lack of camp management continue to be prevalent concerns, especially in the context of the COVID 19 pandemic where the application of preventive, response and mitigation guidance is essential
Since February, 228,878 children from displaced and host community populations received textbooks in Idleb and Aleppo governorates. o 690 teachers and education personnel provided with teachers' incentives. o 185 teachers and education personnel were trained on literacy, numeracy and PSS and referral mechanisms
In Rukban, the lack of any regular humanitarian assistance or basic service access has created a critical situation for the 12,000 people thought to remain there.
o According to updates from 24 WASH partners in 110 locations to the WASH COVID 19 reporting matrix, 89 percent have changed their response due to COVID 19, 80 percent have increased the amount of water supplied, 83 percent have adapted hygiene promoted activities, 59 percent have increased the amount of soap distributed, and 15 percent have increased the amount of laundry detergent distributed.
The border with Jordan remains completely closed. Access to Rukban from within Syria remains under discussion with the various parties while individual departures are being catered to, notably emergency medical cases.
As of 24 July, the MoH report around 12,416 tests have been conducted by the Central Public Health Laboratory  ( CPHL )  in Damascus and the public health laboratories in Aleppo, Lattakia and Homs. The enhancement of laboratory and case investigation capacity across Syria, including in NES, remains a priority, as does the timely communication of all information relevant to the safeguarding of public health
There are still no qualified medical personnel inside the camp and only a few commercial trucks recently managed to reach the camp  ( five trucks in May ) .
Subsequently, authorities in NES in late April and early May announced an additional five cases  ( since recovered )  through their own laboratory capacity. On 23 July, authorities in NES announced a further four in Qamishli  ( 3 )  and Al Hasakeh city  ( 1 ) ; the first announced cases in NES in over two months
In accordance with WHO guidelines and local health authorities, the Logistics Cluster has enacted measures at the transshipment hubs to mitigate the risks of COVID 19 to teams on the ground, including new handwashing facilities for drivers and workers, promoting physical distancing, raising awareness through visibility items and a staff rotation system.
While in May to mid June, Fishkabour/Semalka had been opened periodically for returns of Syrian nationals, with an estimated 1,216 Syrian refugees returning from Iraq to Syria during that time, local authorities recently announced that from 13 July, all border crossing points to NES are closed as a precautionary measure against COVID 19.
WHO also supported the training of 100 healthcare workers on triage, IPC/PPE measures and case management for SARI cases when COVID 19 is suspected across four Ministry of Higher Education university hospitals in Damascus. In NES, there are up to 22 prepared isolation centres for moderate severe cases, with six currently operational  ( approximately 309 out of 975 available beds ) .
In some parts of the country, recent surveillance data show that chronic malnutrition among children under five is now at 29 per cent, compared to 19 per cent around this time last year.
Among the areas affected and facing significant water shortages is al Hol camp, which accommodates around 65,000 people. Two thirds of the camp population are children. More than half are under the age of five – that is 35,000 children under the age of five.
Needs: To manage the threat of COVID 19, coordination and timely information sharing with partners will be critical to assist with partner operational decision making and to ensure bottlenecks and the duplication of efforts are avoided. Ensuring the safety and health of staff working at the transshipment points by following WHO guidelines on mitigating COVID 19 risks at transshipment points
As part of ensuring appropriate IPC measures during national examinations for ninth grade students, WASH sector partners  ( UNDP, UNICEF, Syrian Arab Red Crescent, Rebuild and Relief International and UNFPA )  supported light rehabilitation of WASH facilities at 42 accommodation centres in Rural Damascus, Hama and Raqqa governorates. As per previous reports, WASH items have also been provided to all examination centers in addition to PPE, hand sanitizers, dignity kits and relevant awareness raising, as well as sanitation and disinfection of all accommodation and examination centers
The daily curfew remains lifted, as has the travel ban between and within governorates. Markets, restaurants, cafes, gyms, parks, theaters, cinemas and most leisure facilities remain open, so long as precautionary measures are adopted. Mosques and churches are allowed open, so long as physical distancing is observed
The RC/HC has also designated a dedicated Supply Chain Task Force Coordinator for within Syria who will oversee and validate related requests for Damascus based partners uploaded onto the system. WHO in coordination with the Health Sector has developed an online COVID 19 Supplies Tracking System to monitor the items procured, distributed and in the pipeline in real time by health sector partners. The dashboard is updated on a weekly basis.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights recorded at least five civilian deaths, including two children, and 26 civilians, including seven children, injured as a result of shelling and airstrikes this month.
The UN reports that there are 4,178,480 people in north western Syria, living in densely populated conditions with little access to healthcare. In Idlib  ( pop. 3.5+ million )  there are under 300 ICU beds and a limited number of ventilators. The majority of the ventilators are currently in use and not available to treat COVID 19.
WHO has analyzed the data collected from the COVID 19 supplies survey from NGOs and developed a distribution plan of supplies for 122 health facilities operated by 17 NGOs for the upcoming month. WHO has received a batch of PPE supplies from the WHO Dubai logistic hub, including following; 69 oxygen concentrators, 6,000 disposable gowns, 59,000 face shields, 3,000 goggles, 518,000 surgical masks, and 95,000 N95 masks.
On July 7, a 39 year old doctor working in north western Syria was tested for COVID 19 and was confirmed positive today. This is the first reported case of COVID 19 in north western Syria.
Total financial requirements of $122 million for COVID 19 related supplies are part of overall COVID 19 response requirements, as identified by and consolidated across all hubs. Request procedures for these supplies are currently being clarified by WHO and OCHA in coordination with the Supply Chain Inter Agency Coordination Cell  ( SCICC )  and hub focal points.
In North Western Syria there is currently only one PCR Lab. In the past 12 months alone, 85 medical facilities have been attacked and most are currently not functional. The medical infrastructure cannot handle the existing population needs let alone a wide spread pandemic. Medical staff suffer from a shortage of masks, gloves, gowns, disinfectant, thermal scanners and other medical supplies.
UN cross border shipments continue and have in fact increased since early March while commercial trucks  ( used by most NGOs )  were partially impacted.
In NES  ( as of 15 May ) , at least 129 samples have been collected in response to alerts received through one of the three surveillance systems operational to track reports of suspected cases, conduct case investigation and ultimately contain the virus's spread. Of these, six samples were confirmed as positive, including: one case via MoH testing capacity in Damascus  ( having been identified through an alert through the EWARS network ) , two cases tested by local authorities via PCR testing capacity  ( one of which has since recovered )  and a further three recovered cases which were confirmed via positive antibody tests administered by local authorities.
“The corona virus will spread through refugee camps like wildfire. The large geriatric population and those with chronic conditions  ( asthma, cancer, diabetes, hepatitis, etc. )  are expected to have a very low probability of survival.
In GoS controlled areas, curfew measures are maintained from 19:30 to 06:00 daily. Movement restrictions between governorates still apply. While schools and universities are currently closed, universities and higher institutes plan to reopen from 31 May, while national exams will be held on 21 June.
At all 14 points of entry  ( PoEs ) , the Syrian MoH has stationed at least one equipped ambulance with medical personnel. WHO has supported screening efforts, including providing one thermal scanner camera to MoH. In light of the increased number of repatriations over the past two weeks, WHO has provided support with 1,690 items of PPE, disinfection materials, and 200 IEC materials to the Lattakia DoH.
In NES  ( as of 15 May ) , there have been no reported changes in the status of the main points of entry to NES  ( comprising the airport, nine land border crossings and six crossing points between local authorities and GoS or Turkish areas of control ) . Of the nine land border crossings into NES  ( three into Turkish controlled areas ) , at the moment, five crossing are currently ‘partially open', an increase from four last week  ( one additional crossing into Turkish controlled areas has been opened under special circumstances only ) .
• Suspension of schools due to COVID 19 impacted on the quality of children's education.
The first movement back to NES on the 3rd of June allowed the NGOs to bring in 33 international staff  ( including 15 medical personnel ) , this was followed by subsequent crossings  ( 7 and 13 staff )  from KRI to NES. Now, movements are planned on a weekly basis.
• Use of schools by IDPs as shelter continues to have a negative impact on the children's access to education services.
As of 24 July, the Syrian MoH reported 12,416 tests had been conducted by the Central Public Health Laboratory  ( CPHL )  in Damascus and the public health laboratories in Aleppo, Lattakia and Homs. The enhancement of laboratory and case investigation capacity across Syria, including in NES, remains a priority, as does the timely communication of all information relevant to the safeguarding of public health.
In Syria, more than 467,000 individuals have been reached though risk communication and community engagement including more than 121,000 Syrians reached through WhatsApp groups, and 135,000 Syrians as well as refugees reached through community outreach volunteers. Furthermore, as part of infrastructure and shelter activities, UNHCR has supported 30 collective shelters with renovation and rehabilitation and 200 emergency shelters have been distributed for the COVID 19 response.
In Syria, 608 laboratory confirmed cases have been reported by the MoH to date: one case in Tartous; seven in Dar'a; nine in As Sweida; nine in Homs; ten in Hama; 29 in Lattakia; 30 in Aleppo; 34 in Quneitra; 136 in Rural Damascus; 319 in Damascus, and 24 cases where the location had yet been announced.
To help communities socially distance, more than 900 shelter kits, with doors and windows, have been distributed since the start of the COVID 19 crisis. For northwest Syria, UNHCR cross border operation in Gaziantep transshipped 20,000 hygiene kits between May and mid July, with over 16,000 of those kits so far distributed to 82,000 displaced persons.
However, on February 25, Bassem Mansour, head of the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority, said that flights from Iran will not be suspended because the controls conducted at the airport were sufficient to prevent the spread of the virus in the country
As of 2 July, the Syrian Ministry of Health  ( MoH )  confirmed 312 people tested positive with COVID 19, including nine people who died and 113 who recovered.
As of 14 July, US$ 106.8 million have been received to support the COVID 19 response, covering 28 per cent of total requirements. Most funding has been received by the Health Sector  ( US$ 32.4 million )  and the WASH Sector  ( US$ 18.6 million ) . To fully deliver against all sectors targets and ensure a comprehensive response, increased funding is urgently needed to address the health and socio economic impacts of the crisis.
[ October 23, GoS, new peak ]  A member of the regime's "Corona Virus Advisory Team", Dr. Naboug Al Awa, said that Syria is on a date with a new peak of the Corona virus, as it happened last summer.
As of 30 June, there are no laboratory confirmed cases of COVID 19 in NWS. A total of 1,661 samples were collected of which 1,625 tested negative for COVID 19 using polymerase chain reaction  ( PCR ) . Results for the remaining 36 cases remain pending at the time of this report.
As of 19 September, the MoH reported that 37,000 tests have been conducted. As detailed above, the GoS committed to establish laboratories in all 14 governorates.
[ September 2020,Overall Syria ] In September, using savings to cope with lack of food or lack of money to buy food was still not an option for 88 percent of the Syrian households, with peaks in Dar'a  ( 93 percent ) , Ar Raqqa and Rural Damascus  ( 90 percent )
To date, the Syrian MoH has reported 312 people with COVID 19 across Syria. As of 2 July, the full geographic distribution of reported cases has yet to be published. Of the total cases, 99 cases were announced as imported, including recently repatriated Syrian nationals, students from Lebanon who had come to Syria to sit national exams, as well as a cross border truck driver. Of the nine fatalities in Government of Syria  ( GoS )  controlled areas, six were in Damascus; one was in Rural Damascus; one was in Qunietra; and one was in Aleppo.
Since mid April, there have been six confirmed cases of COVID 19 in NES, resulting in one death with five cases having recovered as of 13 June. To date, there has been one confirmed cluster of COVID 19 cases, centred on the Al Amran neighbourhood of Al Hasakeh. There has been no confirmed community level transmission reported.
In the reporting period, sectors provided ongoing support to students sitting national exams, including humanitarian support to students who travelled cross line to GoS controlled areas.
As of 25 June, the MoH reported 8,041 tests were conducted by the Central Public Health Laboratory  ( CPHL )  in Damascus and the public health laboratories in Aleppo, Lattakia and Homs. It remains a priority to enhance laboratory and case investigation capacity across Syria, including training of laboratory technicians and rapid response teams  ( RRTs ) .
Multi sectoral support included temperature checks at crossing points, IPC measures such as sterilization of accommodation and examination centers and the provision of PPE to teachers, invigilators and observers; as well as the provision of meals, NFIs and dignity kits.
significant barriers to accessing healthcare, water and key hygiene items were reported, which is of concern in light of a potential COVID 19 outbreak. In informal settlements, low levels of awareness and knowledge about COVID 19 were reported, as well as insufficient access to soap and handwashing facilities.
At the time of writing, partners were supporting facilitation of safe return post exams and to reduce potential contamination through the administering of predeparture care packages, including information awareness raising sessions, PPEs and hand sanitizers.
Surveillance and testing capacity remain key bottlenecks in the response. Testing will need to be further increased to ensure cases can be detected in a timely manner and at scale – since the publication of the COVID 19 Consolidated Plan in early May, the daily testing capacity has been raised from 70 to 3458 , well below what is occurring in neighbouring countries
Those who are displaced are facing a protection and poverty crisis, exacerbated by COVID19. Millions of displaced have lost their livelihoods, are taking on debt and are increasingly unable to meet their basic needs due to the regional economic crisis and the impact of COVID 19. There is increased risk of child labour, gender based violence, early marriage and other forms of exploitation. Displaced people in camps or camp like situations face additional risks as it may be difficult to practice regular handwashing, physical distancing and other key public health measures.
Increasing capacity of rapid response teams and for sample collection also remain priorities to improve case detection.
A third of school aged children in Syria – 2.5 million children – are out of school. Another 1.6 million are at risk of dropping out of school.
The spike in under five mortality was recorded between 6 – 10 August, and is more than three times higher than the mortality rate since the beginning of 2020.
As for other sectors, the Nutrition cluster has so far reached over 34 organizations with workshops on COVID 19 guidance to adapt nutrition programming.
The number of out of school children has increased by 16 per cent since last year. With school closures due to COVID 19, that number is very likely to increase further.
Only one out of three field hospitals remain operational, and even then is running a reduced service
COVID 19 Vulnerability  In 22% of assessed settlements, KIs reported that no one has access to handwashing facilities. In only 31% of assessed settlements did all IDPs reportedly have access to soap
Recommendation: Messaging should focus on preventive measures even as people move about and should target men  ( e.g. wear a mask when you leave, maintain distance with other people even when out ) , as social distancing practices are unlikely to change unless there is a spike in COVID 19 cases. Significant changes in social distancing practices were observed more frequently among women than men, likely because women were observing social distancing practices more strictly than men from the beginning of the epidemic. Even so, women are still more likely to practice social distancing than men.
[ 28th April 2020, Damascus ]  As of April 25, the authorities in Damascus had tested 48 samples from northeast Syria, of which 1 tested positive. The area is mostly under the control of the Kurdish led Autonomous Administration, a quasi autonomous authority.
While the UN is not in a position to verify this information; it is of note that official cases confirmed by the MoH have increased more than 100 per cent in July, and the source of 277 cases to date remains unknown, potentially indicating that community transmission is now widespread.
Following WHO support for on site training of laboratory technicians and delivery of essential supplies, COVID 19 testing is also ongoing at the Tishreen University Hospital in Lattakia, the Zahi Azraq Hospital in Aleppo, and at the public health laboratory in Homs. As of 24 July, the MoH reported that 12,416 cases have been tested, with a current average of 226 tests performed per day.
[ 28th April 2020, NE Syria ]  By April 25,Syrian authorities had confirmed 42 cases countrywide. Syria's limited testing capacity, especially in northeast Syria, means the real number may be much higher
The camp is on the brink of a COVID 19 outbreak, with reduced medical facilities available and a lack of protective equipment for staff to operate safely.
Shelter sector partners in coordination with MoLAE continue assessments  ( including interagency missions )  to determine needed repairs to address issues such as overcrowding, poor hygiene and inadequate sanitation facilities, with upgrades completed in 11 shelters to date.
Border crossings remain impacted as Syria and neighboring countries continue implementation of precautionary measures. Most land borders into Syria remain closed, with some limited exemptions  ( from Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon )  including commercial and relief shipments, and movement of humanitarian and international organization personnel. International commercial passenger flights remain suspended however domestic commercial cargo and passenger flights are ongoing.
Community or groupbased activities such as education and protection services have been more seriously impacted by these mitigation measures. However, individual specialized protection, GBV and CP support continued to be provided remotely, with a quick adaptation to the new modality of service provision.
Combined with an unexpected increase in the exchange rate, the agriculture sector has become the most affected sector by the pandemic. The precautionary measures have led to increases in input prices, mainly fodder and veterinary services, and transportation costs as well as to the closure of market outlets  ( restaurants and animal markets ) , impeding herders' capacity to generate an income to sustain their livelihoods and enable them to resume production.
Lumpy skin disease, an infectious disease that affects cattle, is another challenge threating small scale herders' livelihoods. The disease causes fever as well as nodules on the animal's skin, and it can lead to the animal's death. In the Syrian Arab Republic, the first cases were detected in Lattakia Governorate, after which the disease spread to Hama and Homs governorates. The disease carries a high potential to spread to other governorates if cattle are not vaccinated against it.
Last week, an analysis was done for the suspected cases who were tested through 8 May from both NES and NWS  ( N=414 ) . Among these, 283  ( 68 per cent )  were males and 131  ( 32 per cent )  were females and the majority of suspects were between 0 to 4 years.
At the same time, critical humanitarian response and services need to be maintained and scaled up where necessary to support a further deterioration in the lives of an already vulnerable population.
[ July 2021, NWS and Ras Al Ain – Tell Abiad ]  The COVID 19 vaccination program for north west Syria begun on 1 May, targeting first healthcare and social workers. It was expanded on 7 June to cover persons with noncommunicable diseases and on 1 July to all persons over 60 years.
With a focus on protecting health workers, WHO continues to increase PPE supplies in Syria. Over the reporting period, an additional 1,690 PPEs were delivered to health workers working at two quarantine centres in Lattakia. To date, WHO has delivered over 1.3 million PPE items, including surgical masks, gloves, reusable heavy duty aprons, gowns, head covers, alcohol hand rubs, medical masks, goggles and coveralls, and alcohol hand rubs. Additionally, shipments of PPE and sterilization items have also been dispatched to Qamishli National Hospital, the DoH in Al Hasakeh, and in Deir Ez Zor
In the reporting period, 30MT of medical supplies  ( including medicines, essential supplies and PPE )  arrived in Qamishli by road. This was the WHO's first road shipment to NES with GoS approval since 2018; with supplies expected to be distributed within a week
[ 28th April 2020, NE Syria ]  Several aid workers from organizations registered in Damascus and UN agencies said that the combination of restrictions from Damascus, the KRG, and the Security Council has prevented them from preparing for an outbreak of Covid 19 in northeast Syria.
One reason for the lack of positive cases is that Syria only very recently received testing kits for Covid 19.
[ September 2020,Overall Syria ]  However, 88 percent of returnees' households reported to rely on at least one food based coping mechanism to cover their essential food needs, compared to 90 and 84 percent from IDPs and residents' households, respectively, in September 2020.
Many facilities were destroyed during the war those that were at one point outside government control were specifically targeted by the regime and Russia's air force. Meanwhile, medical equipment and medicines are in shortage, and personnel is also lacking because of migration.
As previously reported, according to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor  ( MoSAL ) , more than 320,000 people registered for the National Campaign for Emergency Social Response for assistance due to work lost as a result of COVID 19 preventive measures. Of these, 91 per cent are daily labourers, 10.9 per cent are older persons, and 8 per cent are people with disabilities. In early June, MoSAL reported one time payments of SYP 100,000 had been disbursed to 5,000 people; and later, on 24 June, announced a second tranche of payments to 18,731 people would occur on an unspecified date.
Throughout June, the informal SYP/USD exchange rate has experienced extreme volatility, at one point rising to the highest rate on record – approximately SYP 3,200 to US$ 1 on 8 June. Throughout July, the informal exchange rate has continued to fluctuate, albeit at more moderate levels, and at the time of writing was approximately SYP 2,000. On 17 June, the Central Bank of Syria devalued the official exchange rate for the second time in six months, to SYP 1,256 to US$ 1. In some areas, local authorities recently announced local adoption of the Turkish Lira as an accepted currency
The Education Sector is also mapping WASH needs in schools. To date, 1.15 million soap bars and IPC materials for 11,500 schools have been procured.
Another risk stems from the very high population density in all the country's urban centres as a result of the vast destruction of towns and cities, overwhelmingly from government bombing, which drastically reduced the number of housing units and increased the average number of people living in every home. The lack of proper sanitation systems in many areas is also a source of concern.
For the people of northwest Syria, after more than nine years of conflict, multiple displacements and as they brace for the COVID 19 pandemic with the first case confirmed this week, the prospect of the departure of the UN's humanitarian agencies must be truly terrifying.
Reported resuming health services in recent weeks, although this remains under review should circumstances necessitate. UNFPA also continues to provide maternal and neonatal health services and GBV prevention and response services, with 240,343 people receiving reproductive health, awareness raising, and MHPSS since March. In addition, UNICEF report that nutrition activities are ongoing. Education activities have also increased in recent weeks, including in Al Hol camp.
WASH Sector partners are also continuing to deliver increased quantities of soap and hygiene kits. In the reporting period, UNFPA distributed 3,667 dignity kits through partners in three governorates. UNHCR and SARC also commenced implementation of two community led initiatives in Quneitra, distributing hygiene kits including disinfectants and cleaning materials to families who could not otherwise afford them.
One partner continued to support distribution of a further 618 hygiene kits and 8,310 soap bars in Hama and Rural Damascus in partnership with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent  ( SARC ) . A second partner, in partnership with SARC, also continued distributions with 7,050 soap bars to three hospitals, 17 health centres, one school health centre, one communicable disease division and five SARC centres in Deir Ez Zor provided to date.
But despite the limited number of reported cases, the risk of large scale transmission in NES remains high. Following the announcement of four new cases on 23 July, local authorities in NES reinstated a partial curfew. Included in this was the banning of all mass gatherings, including weddings and funerals, while restaurants are now limited to take away service only.
As part of its COVID 19 support, the Syria Humanitarian Fund has commenced disbursement of US$23 million for 32 approved project across the Health  ( $12.5 million )  WASH  ( $4.3 million ) , Protection  ( $2.3 million ) , Food  ( $0.04 million )  and Logistics sectors  ( $0.2 million ) , including $2.85 million.
[ July 2021, NWS and Ras Al Ain – Tell Abiad ]  As of 9 August, 48,080 people had received at least a first dose.
The current key priorities in Syria are: • Enhancing surveillance capacity, including active surveillance, with a critical need to expand laboratory capacity at national and subnational level to test for timely detection; • Protecting health care workers by training and providing additional PPE; • Ensuring proper case management, isolation and contact tracing; and • Raising awareness and risk communication.
As indicated in previous reports, in June, approximately 2,985 students crossed into GoS controlled areas to sit their high school certificate and were accommodated in 25 centres located in six governorates. At the time of writing, students were still returning. Students received pre departure care packages and an education cash subsidy of SYP 30,000 provided by UNICEF to cover the cost of transportation to their homes.
On 28 April, the first repatriation flight of Syrian nationals who had been unable to return to Syria due to COVID 19 precautionary measures landed in Damascus, and, as detailed above, 3,000 nationals have subsequently been repatriated from various locations. Approximately 10,000 Syrians abroad have registered for repatriation flights.
Schools, universities and places of worship are closed until April 02, while working hours at banks have been reduced
UNFPA continues to conduct awareness raising sessions on SRH topics, including COVID 19 infection and prevention measures in RH static clinics and mobile teams, targeting; women, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women. The sessions are being conducted in: Damascus, Rural Damascus, Dara'a, Sweida, Quneitra, Hama, Lattakia, Homs, Hama, Tartous, Aleppo, Al Hassakeh and Deir ezZor.
UNICEF continues to support light rehabilitation of WASH systems in hospitals across the country, with works at the isolation center in Al Hol camp now completed, and 14 other locations ongoing. In the reporting period, UNICEF also supported delivery of PPEs and hand sanitizers to implementing partners in Hama, Aleppo, Tartous and Homs governorates, and trained 63 health workers in Deir Ez Zor in correct use of PPE. UNICEF also completed development of five WASH/IPC protocols  ( on chlorine preparation and dilution; for contractors; protocol in healthcare facilities; protocol in schools, and protocol in MoSAL centers ) , and widely shared with partners to use.
Authorities also emphasized the importance of personal preventive measures, such as physical distancing. Additionally, effective immediately, no corpses are permitted to be transported into NES. While the border has been closed from 24 July, it's understood that weekly humanitarian exemptions will be maintained.
As of 13 June there have been six reported cases of COVID 19 in NES, including one death and five cases which have since recovered; all from the same cluster in Hassakeh city
The preventive measures came into force with immediate effect for an initial period of initial 15 days. Further clarification is being sought from NES authorities on a number of issues, including humanitarian exemptions, movement between administrative areas, as well as the possible adoption of more stringent measures, including localized lockdowns in areas most affected.
Of the four NES cases reported on 23 July, all reportedly suffered from underlying health conditions, and none had had contact with each other  ( i.e. the possibility of multiple separate clusters ) . Three of the cases  ( all in Qamishli city )  had no travel history, while the confirmed case in Hassakeh city had reported recently travelled from Damascus. Each of the cases is reportedly self isolating in their homes, with immediate contacts/family members also under quarantine. Contact tracing is continuing for all these cases, with all close contacts to be asked to undergo a polymerase chain reaction  ( PCR )  test and self quarantine for 14 days.
This week, Syrian authorities started taking the first restrictive measures on public life. On March 14, Syrian President Bashar Al Assad postponed parliamentary elections that were supposed to be held on April 13 to May 20.
Suspension of schools due to COVID 19 impacted on the quality of education. • Use of schools by IDPs as shelter impacted on the children's access to education services
On March 15, the Syrian Cabinet held its weekly meeting and ordered all government departments to coordinate with the Ministry of Health and take all the precautionary measures required “regardless of the cost.' The Ministry of Finance was also asked to secure the funds needed to buy the equipment required to confront the pandemic, although no estimates of the required amounts were provided. The Cabinet also ordered ministries to reduce staffing by 40 percent and provide cleaning and sanitising products at the workplace. State news agency SANA is circulating videos of disinfection taking place in buses and the Damascus International Airport as well as in various other public spaces.
In NES, local authorities on 12 May announced that curfew hours would be shortened to 19:00 to 06:00 each day, with all shops, professions and markets open during these hours. Private and public transportation are allowed while mosques are re opening the last week of Ramadan. Cafés, restaurants, schools and universities remain closed
As of 30 June, most land borders into Syria remain closed, with some limited exemptions  ( from Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon ) , including commercial and relief shipments, and movement of humanitarian and international organization personnel. Borders with Lebanon and Jordan remain closed to civilians while a limited number of humanitarian workers have been able to enter Lebanon from Syria. The crossing points with Lebanon have remained open for humanitarian and commercial cargos. International flights remain restricted  ( although repatriation flights for Syrian nationals have continued )  while Damascus, Aleppo and Qamishli airports are still operating domestic and cargo flights.
In GoS controlled areas, the widespread easing of preventive measures introduced throughout May continued. The daily curfew has remained lifted, as has the travel ban between and within governorates. Markets, restaurants, cafes, gyms, most public places as well as worship places are also allowed to open, so long as physical distancing is observed. Public and private transportation services have also resumed, as have universities and institutions
All flights by Syrianair, the national carrier, are suspended except to Cairo, Moscow, and Khartoum. Cham Wings, a private sector airline, is continuing to fly, except to countries and cities that stopped travel from Syria, as Iran did on March 01, Erbil on March 12 and Kuwait on March 07. On March 16, Cham Wings flights to Moscow, Khartoum and Yerevan were still operating.
UNFPA Syria is in the procurement process for more PPE to be distributed to both MoH and MoHE. The items include: 350,000 facial masks, 50,000 N95, 7,500 gloves, and 10,000 liters of surface sterilizer. The items are expected to be delivered by September.
On 30 June, the EU organised a donor meeting the Brussels IV Conference for Syria. Speaking at the conference, UN SecretaryGeneral António Guterres reminded donor countries that “nine out of 10 people  [ in Syria ]  are now living in poverty' and that “the economic impact of the COVID 19 pandemic has led to a doubling of food prices'.
The awareness raising methods varied from conducting individual sessions, distributing awareness brochures issued by WHO and broadcasting messages. A total of 5,434 beneficiaries were reached through IPs health facilities with awareness raising, including messages on COVID 19.
Land crossings with Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan have also been largely closed, although Syrians can still return home.
According to the Syrian MoH, 76 healthcare workers  ( four per cent of reported cases )  have tested positive for COVID 19, an increase of 31 since the last report. This highlights the particular risks faced by healthcare workers; and underscores the potential for its overstretched healthcare capacity to be further compromised.
The Ministry of Health also started publishing awareness instructions on its Facebook page, while Minister of Health Nizar Yazigi met the Chinese ambassador in Damascus on March 16, probably to ask for experience and knowledge sharing on ways to tackle the pandemic.
Syria's alreadyprecarious economic situation continues to deteriorate, and the security situation in the country's north west worsened in July, while the closure of the Bab al Salam border crossing to UN cross border humanitarian assistance and the announcement of the first confirmed cases of COVID 19 in the north west have made the humanitarian situation in and around Idlib more tenuous.
UNFPA IPs distributed personal protective kits against COVID 19 into stages: the first stage targeted North East Syria  ( NES )  students in accommodation centers, while the second,targeted students without shelter and coming from areas that are under the control of the Government of Syria in Deir ez zour  ( Abu Kamal and Mayadeen ) .
The prices of medical supplies have already increased significantly. Local websites report that the price of one litre of medicinal alcohol 90% in Damascus increased from SYP 2,200 to SYP 3,500, while that of alcohol 70% jumped from SYP 1,600 to SYP 2,800. The price of a small bottle of antibacterial hand gel increased from SYP 300 to SYP 500, while for the larger size it increased from SYP 1,000 to SYP 1,800. The price of respirators increased by around 700 percent, from SYP 1,500 to SYP 12,000 for a pack of 50
Beneficiary students received protective kits and other items provided by other UN agencies such as food items. A total of 871 students and their companions benefitted from this distribution
An additional 28 cases have subsequently been identified. According to OCHA, all four patients are health professionals, and steps to mitigate the spread of the virus have resulted in restrictions of movements as well as suspension of routine clinical work in area hospitals.
Already, the value of the Syrian pound has resumed its depreciation relative to the dollar. On March 18 in the morning, the dollar was traded in the Syrian black market at SYP 1,112, compared with SYP 1,065 a week earlier, meaning a rise of 4.4 percent in just seven days. This depreciation will lead to a higher inflation rate affecting the purchasing power of the population.
In north west Syria, 38 cases have been confirmed, with no deaths reported. In north east Syria, 34 cases have been reported, including 1 death.
To enhance surveillance efforts, WHO is working with the MoH to simplify the case definition for COVID 19 as well as expand active surveillance beyond the existing 125 hospitals to all primary healthcare facilities
According to World Food Programme  ( WFP ) , the price of an average food basket in May stood at SYP 56,668, 11 per cent higher compared to April, and 133 per cent higher when compared to the same time in 2019. Meanwhile, a number of traders have reported experiencing a notable drop in stock levels, with some commodities not available, including vegetable oil and sugar, due to wholesalers waiting for stability of the informal exchange rate. Shortages of other essential commodities, such as medicine, have also been reported.
In the reporting period, WHO supported the 25 active surveillance teams to conduct 450 visits, in addition to active finding of suspected cases. In addition, WHO further supported a session for health worker teams on case definition and prevention measures
They said that Syrian women are more likely than men to be affected by poverty, be victims of gender based violence and be responsible for the care of children and their other family members. This likelihood increases with the spread of COVID 19.
During the reporting period  ( 1 31 July 2020 ) , UNFPA achieved the following  ( GBV & RH & Youth ) :● Beneficiaries for RH awareness raising, including COVID 19 related topics: 5,434 ● Young people reached with awareness raising on COVID 19 related topics: 286 ● RH static clinics: 87 ● RH mobile teams: 74 ● Psycho social support and counseling on COVID 19 provided to: 18,809 beneficiaries
[ 28th April 2020, NE Syria ]  As of mid April, only26 out of 279 public health care centers are fully functioning. Aid agencies say that only 2 of 11 hospitals are fully functioning and that no district in northeast Syria meets the minimum emergency threshold of at least 10 beds for every 10,000 people, while just 1 district has enough doctors, nurses, and midwives to meet the minimum emergency threshold of at least 22 health care workers for every 10,000 people
The economic impact of COVID 19 continues to take its toll across Syria, compounding an already humanitarian situation on the ground. Due to volatile exchange rate fluctuations, as well as other factors, including knock on effects of the preventive measures of COVID 19 on the economy including disruption of supply chains, limited production hours and panic buying, price rises in most basic commodities have been observed.
During the reporting period  ( 1 31 July 2020 ) , UNFPA achieved the following  ( GBV & RH & Youth ) :Awareness raising on GBV and COVID 19 provided to: 13,705 beneficiaries ● Vocational training provided to: 931 women and girls ● Number of supported Women's and Girls' Safe Spaces operating: 38 ● Number of Community Wellbeing Centers operational: 3 ● Number of GBV mobile teams operating: 104 ● Number of Dignity Kits8 distributed: 776
Where possible, UNICEF's fixed health clinics are applying a triage system, in addition to the RRT referral pathway in coordination with WHO. UNRWA have also continued a triage system in their 25 health centers.
From the beginning of COVID 19 response  ( 1st of April 31st of July ) , UNFPA achieved the following  ( RH & GBV & Youth ) :● Beneficiaries reached with PSS and counseling related to COVID 19: 162,660 ● Beneficiaries reached with awareness raising sessions on COVID 19: 134,792 ● Beneficiaries reached with sanitary napkins packs and dignity kits: 18,832
[ 28th April 2020, NE Syria ]  On April 15, the WHO said that among the 1,500 Covid 19 tests carried out by the authorities in Damascus, 48 were of samples collected from the northeast, one of which tested positive.
UNFPA Support for 100 community volunteers through the implementing partners to upscale awareness raising on GBV and COVID 19 in selected locations: Dara'a, Damascus and Rural Damascus.
In this regard, life saving food assistance to 3.5 million people has continued with adjusted distribution modalities, as has agricultural and livelihoods programmes. The UN Development Programme  ( UNDP )  and partners have further focused on support for micro, small and medium enterprises for workers temporarily out of employment with social safety net activities, in addition to distribution of agricultural inputs and livestock to sustain food security in rural areas.
Restrictions remain in place at most other crossing points inside Syria. Abu Zendin, Um Jloud and Awn Dadat in Aleppo remain closed, as does Akeirshi in Ar Raqqa. Abu Assi in Ar Raqqa is reported open for students crossing to sit national exams. Ghazawiyet Afrin and Al Taiha in Aleppo are reported open for commercial traffic; the latter is also reported open for students. Deir Ballut in Aleppo is open.
In NES, local authorities have also eased preventive measures, with most restrictions which were in place until 15 June now relaxed. Most transport, shops and markets are allowed to operate between 7am to 7pm, and some institutions have been allowed to reopen. Travel is now permitted, and religious centres are allowed to open after disinfection. The border with Iraq remains closed since early March, but humanitarian partners continue to be granted facilitation measures for the transport of goods and movement of staff.
[ 26th September, NW Syria ]  According to Observatory statistics, the total number of confirmed cases recorded since July 9 to date has risen to 825, including doctors and medics.
[ 26th September, NW Syria ]  Syrian Observatory activists have documented the death of nine people due to COVID, and they are: 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 man in his fiftieth in Salqin city in rural Idlib and four people in al Bab town in Aleppo countryside.
The UN RC/HC and WHO Country Representative continue to engage senior officials on the COVID 19 response, including with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister and Deputy Ministers of Health, the Ministers of MoSAL, MoLAE and Ministry of Education, as well as ICRC and SARC. In the reporting period, the CCC continued to follow up on recommendations made following a WHO led technical mission from EMRO in early July, including increasing and strengthening surveillance, testing, isolation and contact tracing in order to suppress the transmission of COVID 19; and enhancing Risk Communication and Community Engagement efforts by making information and advice available to communities in “real time'
Examinations for grades 9 to 12 began on 4 July and completed on 21 July in the Idleb area and northern Aleppo. Total number of children who received the exams is 24,404 students. 14,697 of these students in Grade 9 and 9,707 students in Grade 12.
[ 9 AUG 2021, NWS and Ras Al Ain – Tell Abiad ]  A total of 727 COVID 19 associated deaths had been reported by 9 August, with an overall fatality rate of around 3 percent. The current cases among healthcare workers is 4.3 percent. Some 7.7 percent of all COVID 19 cases are in IDP camps.
[ November 9 2020 Overall syria ]  On Sunday morning, the Syrian government closed three schools in the city of Aleppo, northern Syria, due to the spread of coronavirus among students and teachers.
However, KIs in 49% of communities with school closures reported that students were able to access education online, using improvised methods such as WhatsApp. The second most commonly reported barrier for IDP children  ( after school closures )  was affordability, which suggest that education might remain inaccessible for some communities after COVID 19 related mitigation measures have been scaled down.
Another 34 civilians, including 15 children, were killed and at least 98 wounded by attacks using improvised explosive devices in residential areas and local markets, and in incidents involving landmines and explosive remnants of war.
The cases are all coming from one cluster and located in Sarmada, Al Bab, Al Dana and Atma and 58 % are health workers while the others are their families. In total, 376 contacts were identified and has been traced for testing
The regional daily wage median was 2,800 SYP for both IDPs and residents, which, according to the informal exchange rate collected by the REACH Market Monitoring assessment from 8 16 June6 , is approximately equal to 1.07 USD. Reported strategies to cope with a lack of livelihood opportunities included borrowing money, sending children to work or beg, and purchasing items on credit  ( among others ) .
The new assistance comprises approximately $368 million from USAID/BHA and $328 million from State/PRM to provide emergency food, health, livelihoods, shelter, and WASH assistance to Syrians in need.