nlp-thedeep/humsetbias huggingface dataset:
During June, the Syrian Arab Republic Government  ( SARG )  Central Bank adjusted the official exchange rate from approximately 700 SYP per U.S. Dollar  ( USD )  to more than 1,200 SYP per USD, a nearly 80 percent devaluation; as of mid June, the unofficial rate fell to the lowest point on record to more than 3,100 SYP per USD.
As of July 1, the SARG Ministry of Health  ( MoH )  had confirmed 293 COVID 19 cases, including nine deaths, in SARG held areas of Syria. Health actors also confirmed six additional cases in northeast Syria, including one death, and no cases in opposition held areas of northwest Syria
Although USG and UN humanitarian partners are supporting COVID 19 prevention and response efforts, the lack of medical commodities and limited availability of quarantine facilities hinders the response.
Across Syria, authorities have begun to ease COVID 19 preventive measures, and many essential health care and protection services such as mobile medical units and child friendly spaces have resumed in recent weeks, although some group based humanitarian activities remain suspended.
The immediate impact on their wellbeing is already evident, with most education and protection facilities, as well as youth/community centres, including child friendly spaces, closed. Lockdowns, closures and curfews are likely to have far reaching psychosocial and socio economic impact on Syrian families and host communities now and in the future, including a higher burden for adolescent girls and young women on domestic and caretaking responsibilities, increase of negative coping mechanisms such as child marriage and a highteened risk of gender based violence, exclusion from sexual and reproductive services and disparities in access to technology and connectivity
USAID/BHA non governmental organization  ( NGO )  partner is installing additional handwashing and latrine facilities in camps and informal settlements in northeast Syria and distributing WASH items in northwest Syria IDP camps to mitigate the spread of COVID 19.
On 20 April, NGOs opened a first phase  ( 60 beds )  of a 120 bed hospital in a repurposed factory building outside Al Hasakeh, however, due to lack of demand, the hospital has been placed on standby, and can be reinstated quickly should circumstances warrant.
State/PRM is supporting the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees  ( UNHCR )  to protect IDPs and refugees in Syria and the region from direct and indirect impacts of COVID 19 by providing local and national authorities with medical supplies; undertaking risk communication and hygiene promotion activities; and scaling up protection activities and the distribution of cash assistance, shelter materials, and core relief items.
A total of 136 PHC doctors  ( 113 males and 13 females )  have attended the face to face Mental Health Gap Action Programme  ( mhGAP 2.0 )  with seven training sessions completed across Azzaz, Idleb Aldana, and Afrin, training sessions also on protection against sexual exploitation and abuse  ( PSEA )  and gender based violence  ( GBV ) .
Since the start of the COVID 19 crisis, UNHCR has reached more than 614,000 people with risk communication and community engagement activities, including approximately 195,000 Syrians and refugees in Syria through mass communication campaigns and outreach volunteers.
Currently, six hospitals are designated to serve as COVID 19 referral hospitals: 4 active and 2 in plan with current capacity of 66 ventilators, 74 ICU beds and 355 ward beds. There is focus on improving capacity of ICU in terms of beds, HR and skills.
Various COVID 19 related curfew measures have been imposed throughout Syria restricting movement for civilians and goods. These measures are often accompanied with facilitating measures for the movement of humanitarian staff and supplies.
Humanitarian activities are often reduced due to restrictions and self imposed measures. Many humanitarian partners have suspended non emergency work and have suspended nonessential programming, only conducting operations related to health, hygiene, and food. In the NES, interventions across sectors continue, in some cases adapting modalities to programme remotely  ( e.g. home learning kits, e learning etc ) .
OCHA Syria continues to engage the Inter Sector Coordination  ( ISC )  team in Damascus to coordinate the response within Syria. WHO is holding daily meetings in Damascus and weekly operational calls to monitor implementation of the COVID19 Preparedness and Response plan
A series of priority actions were identified focusing on the activation/reactivation of capacities  ( e.g. isolation facilities, community messaging, rapid response teams  ( RRTs ) , sample collection/transportation ) , aggressive isolation of cases and transmission prevention, implementation of rigorous controls/ restrictions at points of entries  ( PoEs )  and enhanced diagnostic capacity
As of 3 August, 36 people with COVID 19 have been identified in NWS, with the first positive result recorded in Bab AlHawa on 9 July. Of these, 19 were from Idleb and 17 were from Aleppo. Since 9 July, 20 patients have recovered while 16 cases remain active. To date, 32 cases developed mild symptoms and 4 cases were asymptomatic. Out of total 36 cases, 23  ( 64 per cent )  have recovered, with 3 cases having recovered in the past 24 hours.
As of 3 August, a total of 1,551 samples have been tested since reporting of the first case from NWS, with a test positivity rate of 2.3 per cent. Contact tracing is continuing for all positive cases and health partners are focusing on interrupting virus transmissions and reducing secondary infections.
Precautions against a potential spread of the virus have been scaled up in response to identified cases, including restrictions on movements, gatherings, commercial activities, and in person education services. These measures are crucial to contain transmission, though they may intensify humanitarian need by complicating humanitarian response and through their impacts on local markets, income generating opportunities and vital services.
A total of 159 hospitals and primary health centres  ( PHC )  have been equipped with COVID 19 triage systems, and four community based treatment centres  ( CCTC )  have been operationalized to treat patients with mild to moderate cases of COVID 19.
This percentage is highest among returnee households in north east Syria  ( 94 percent ) , particularly in Ar Raqqa  ( 94 percent )  and AlHasakeh  ( 93 percent )  governorates. This is concerning, as it further compounds economic hardships already experienced by vulnerable households across Syria.
In total, 4,331 returns were reported across GoS areas over the month of June. This sudden increase in returns is likely attributable to the re opening of internal and international transit points over the month, as a result of the relaxing of COVID 19 mitigation mesaures. Of the 90 percent who returned from with Syria, 47 percent returned to Jebel Saman in the north west of the country   the vast majority of whom returned from a different location within the same sub district. 55 percent of returnees in Jebel Saman reported that their most important reason for return was to protect assets or properties, which was the most frequently cited reason overall for returns from within Syria. Returnees from abroad, on the other hand, mostly returned due to deteriorating economic situation in their prior place of displacement.
People who had encountered these patients in recent weeks are being advised to isolate themselves and be alert to potential symptoms, while all contacts exhibiting symptoms are being tested for COVID 19. As of 12 July, more than 2,500 samples had been PCR tested for COVID 19. Humanitarian and health partners are continuing their efforts to mitigate against the spread of the pandemic
In Aleppo, AlHasakeh, Homs and As Sweida, 804 shelter kits have been provided. Further, in Al Hasakeh, 75 shelters have been assessed, and shelter kits for 100 families were provided to quickly improve privacy and complete basic repairs, however, partitioning for shelters in schools was not approved.
Further, Shelter partners have conducted 47 assessments of collective shelters in Aleppo, Damascus, Deir Ez Zor, Homs, Lattakia and Tartous to identify repairs to hygiene facilities, improve privacy and reduce overcrowding. To date, work has been completed in 21 shelters, covering approximately 2,331 people, with further approvals pending
Training and regional outreach is also ongoing. In Hama, Homs, Idleb, Lattakia and Tartous governorates, 125 health educators were trained on RCCE, while in Muhardeh district, Hama awareness raising sessions were held in health centers and markets targeting doctors, religious leaders and the community
[ July 2021, NWS and Ras Al Ain – Tell Abiad ]  Enabled by the SCR, the area received its first vaccines through COVAX on 22 April, with 53,800 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine delivered. Another 204,000 doses are expected in August 2021.
[ 29th September 2020 ] Highlighting the particular risks faced by healthcare workers, according to the MoH, 143 healthcare workers have tested positive for COVID 19. This includes 59 in Damascus; 30 in Lattakia; 14 in Rural Damascus; nine in Aleppo; seven in Hama; six each in Quneitra, Tartous and Dar'a; three in Al Hasakeh; two in As Sweida; and one in Homs. Of particular concern, 11 healthcare workers are reported to have died, most recently on 3 September
. Precautions against a potential spread of the virus have been scaled up in response to the identified cases, including restrictions on movements, gatherings and commercial activities as well as inperson education services. These measures are crucial to contain transmissions of COVID 19, though they may intensify humanitarian need through their impacts on local markets, income generating opportunities and vital services while complicating humanitarian response
In Aleppo, Fares Shehabi, chairman of the Aleppo Chamber of Industry  ( ACI )  and of the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Industry, said that the ACI was the first institution in the governorate to launch initiatives against the virus and that these included distributing bread for free to many households, offering food baskets for security officers and distributing 1,000 waterproof uniforms to cleaning workers.
As the UN supports national preparedness and response in Syria, the specific country context continues to pose considerable challenges. This includes: a fragile health system lacking sufficient personnel; infrastructure and existing essential equipment; insufficient water and sanitation infrastructure; significant existing vulnerable populations reliant on humanitarian assistance such as refugees, asylum seekers and IDPs; challenges accessing certain areas including due to ongoing hostilities; fragmented governance; challenges for humanitarian workers to move freely to support and implement humanitarian programmes due to preventive measures, including border restrictions and challenges procuring essential supplies including due to border restrictions, a deteriorating economy and competition for local supplies.
Moreover, humanitarian actors had to cease or reduce certain activities that could not be adapted to the current environment in an effort to keep people in need and humanitarian staff safe. For instance, protection and education activities had to be suspended to a large degree as the virtualization of these activities was limited due to the difficulties accessing phones and internet for some people. Only 10 percent of the children could be reached through distance learning during COVID 19 out of 415,000 children, according to OCHA on 29 May.
While no cases of COVID 19 have been identified to date, readiness and response efforts are ongoing in the Idleb area and in northern Aleppo Governorate. Testing and isolation capabilities, as well as facilities to treat more severe cases of COVID 19 within NWS are operational; with these capacities being enhanced. Major gaps in personal protective equipment  ( PPE ) , however, including protective gowns and goggles, surgical and N 95 masks, continue to persist
Recent conversations suggest that plans to activate the PCR capacity in Raqqa and Kobane have been put on hold, with these laboratories to be utilized for non COVID purpose. While the reasons for this decision are not entirely clear, the lack of qualified staff to operate these machines was a consideration. Scalability of testing remains a critical challenge in NES. Currently, local authorities have less than 1,500 PCR testing kits available.
Qamishli airport  ( in GoS areas )  remains officially closed to commercial flights, although the GoS has reportedly been transporting some individuals to Qamishli through the airport, according to local authorities. There are reports that the airport will reopen for commercial flights over the coming week. Of the 9 land border crossings into NES  ( three into Turkish controlled areas ) , one crossing is considered ‘open'  ( as of 27 May )  with six crossings currently ‘partially open'.
COVID 19 has had a significant impact on return to Syria in 2020. While the level of return in the first two months of 2020 were broadly comparable to previous years, return through official border crossings slowed down significantly in March as countries started to enact border measures and other public health containment policies to spread the halt of the virus. There were no verified returns between late March and late May 2020.
By mid June, only Turkey had resumed refugee repatriation activities through its border, while returns were also noted from Lebanon and Iraq. While there are few returns currently on going, the worsening protection and socio economic situation of the COVID crisis is expected to impact on the decision making of those contemplating return once border measures and other movements restrictions are lifted.
Complementing these operational efforts, there is a dialogue with the Government of Syria and other stakeholders to gradually address issues that refugees say inhibit their return, such as concerns over safety, conscription, prosecution, housing, livelihoods or access to services, including education, but also important enabling factors, in particular expanded humanitarian access, assistance and services for people in need in Syria, including IDP and refugee returnees
Even against the backdrop of COVID 19, return planning and preparedness for the return of Syrian refugees continues through the interagency Durable Solutions Working Groups, under the 3RP coordination framework, at the regional level and in several host countries. On going efforts span several areas including assistance, mental health and psycho social support  ( MHPSS ) , Housing, Land and Property  ( HLP )  and civil documentation, and mine risk education.
A third businessman is the lesser known Khaled Al Zubaidi, who announced on Facebook an initiative to distribute 200,000 packs of bread per day for free in the Damascus Countryside province, starting March 31 and lasting for 15 days  ( see photo below ) .
On March 26, the Central Bank of Syria devalued the official exchange rate of the Syrian pound from 434 to 700 pounds per dollar for almost all foreign currency operations. Only imports by the state or on its behalf were excluded and will continue to be funded at the old rate, which was also slightly devalued from 435 to 438 pounds per dollar.
[ July 2021, NWS and Ras Al Ain – Tell Abiad ]  Out of 1.7 million school aged children  ( 3 17 years of age ) , approximately 60 percent   or more than 1 million children   are estimated to be out of school. In 2019, the figure was 34 percent  ( approximately 580,000 children ) .
The Education Cluster reached at least 358,079 school age displaced children with education assistance. Children are being reached with diverse packages of education services including psychosocial support  ( PSS ) , psychological first aid  ( PFA ) , formal and non formal education activities, home schooling, student bags and textbooks to minimise disruption to children's learning
In three quarters of the assessed communities, KIs reported that both resident and IDP households could not afford sufficient food quantities. Borrowing money and decreasing other expenses to spend money on food were the two most commonly reported strategies for coping with a lack of food. Households also relied on their own production and farming, which were reported as a source of food by KIs in 54% of the communities.
The overall lack of affordable goods and services coupled with insufficient income constituted a major humanitarian challenge to the people in northeast Syria  ( NES ) . Humanitarian assistance and available livelihood opportunities were often insufficient to cover basic needs. As a consequence, households resorted to negative coping strategies, such as sending children to work or beg, which was reported in more than half of the communities.
The UN is concerned about the welfare of 1.7 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in the north east of Syria, including 1.1 million people who are in acute need.This includes nearly half a million displaced people throughout the north east, including in Al Hol, where more than 65,000 people  ( two thirds of them children )  live in challenging humanitarian conditions.
With warming weather, high temperatures inside shelters became a significant inadequacy experienced by both residents and IDPs  ( reported by KIs in 38% and 42% of the communities, respectively ) . Lack of lighting around shelters and lack of privacy inside shelters remained commonly reported issues.
More than 300 schools are out of operation, impacting 117,000 children and more than 5,000 teachers: o 135 schools in Ma'arrat An Nu'man and neighbouring communities, impacting 48,649 children and 2,704 teachers. o 23 schools in the communities of Ariha, impacting 5,681 children and 384 teachers. o 41 schools in the communities of Saraqab, impacting 4,901 children and 615 teachers.
Households that have received COVID 19 information are more likely to practice COVID 19 preventative behaviors, particularly for behaviors such as washing hands and limiting movements, likely because they are least costly.
The rehabilitation of a water canal and its pumping stations as well as agricultural support in the Deir ez Zor area. It involves developing agricultural infrastructure such as rehabilitating a water channel, repairing water pumping stations and maintaining the water distribution network. The budget is EUR 8.7 million. Direct beneficiaries are estimated at 23,000 farmers with their families the number of beneficiaries reaches 133,000 people.
The new exchange rate is closer to its black market equivalent of 1,200 1,300 pounds. By doing this, the Central Bank is trying to attract more dollars through official means, reduce downward pressure on the pound, and limit the rise in the cost of imported goods as much as possible. Following the decision, the dollar weakened slightly from a peak of 1,360 pounds on March 26 to 1,220 on March 30. Following the decision, the dollar weakened slightly from a peak of 1,360 pounds on March 26 to 1,220 on March 30.
1,106 children supported with home based education based on a self learning programme, in Marat Tamsrin, Daret Azza, Ariha and Haritan sub districts.
o 4,000 out of school children provided with life skills, recreation and PSS education activities.
29 ERL members responded during June 2020. 20 ERL members operated in 13 Aleppo sub districts reaching 116,721 direct beneficiaries  ( DBs ) , and 19 ERL members operated in 12 Idleb sub districts reaching 307,628 direct beneficiaries
At least 147,108 children and teachers benefited from distance learning in Idleb and Aleppo governorates as an alternative way to continue education during the COVID 19 pandemic.
In order to ensure that supplies of food and medical equipment meet demand, the Central Bank of Syria has also suspended until June 25 the requirement that importers wishing to buy dollars deposit the equivalent of 50 percent of the amount requested in Syrian pounds in a bank account. The measure makes it easier for importers to buy foreign currencies and pay for their imports of food and medical supplies as well as for the inputs needed to produce these products locally.
UNICEF supported C4D teams continue to promote physical distancing as well as awareness raising in public health and service facilities across the country
“Both border crossings in the northwest – Bab al Hawa and Bab al Salam – provide critical, life saving humanitarian assistance to highly vulnerable populations. Bab al Hawa is used to support 2.8 million people in Idlib, while Bab al Salam is used to support 1.4 million people in Northern Aleppo.
Syria devalued the exchange rate it uses for a broad set of transactions and eased the sale of dollars used to fund key imports last week, as the government seeks to battle both the Covid 19 pandemic and the consequences of the collapse of its currency.
Despite these various measures, business actors are preparing for a severe worsening of the economic situation. The value of the currency, an important indicator of business sentiment, has continued to fall. On March 25, the value of the dollar crossed the 1,300 pound mark in the black market in Damascus and traded at around SYP 1,315 mid day, compared with SYP 1,112 a week ago. In just a week, the dollar gained 18 percent; since the beginning of March, it has already climbed by 23 percent.
SAMS operates 50 medical facilities in northwest Syria. Last year, we provided 2,452,082 services to 1,142,164 individuals. In 2019, SAMS delivered 238 containers to its medical facilities in northwest Syria, totaling over $12 million in medical and humanitarian assistance.
Other measures pertaining to reducing social contacts have included: The closure of restaurants, cafes, parks, theatres, cinemas, nightclubs, event halls for weddings and parties, and children's playgrounds. Starting today, March 25, a curfew is in place every day from 6 pm to 6 am. All public transportation inside and outside of cities has been suspended. Public transport buses will now be used to transport civil servants as well as private sector employees to their workplaces. The internet monthly bandwidth has been increased by 50 percent to facilitate work from home as well as communication about the virus. Conscription has been suspended until April 22.
On March 25, the Central Bank again reduced the categories of products that local banks can fund from 41 to 18  ( see list below )  at the new price of 700 pounds per dollar. The import of other products is either banned or funded directly by traders through their dollar holdings in Syria, banks abroad or through credit lines granted by banks outside Syria
o 227 families have been provided with tents by Education Cluster members to support the relocation of displaced people sheltering in schools, in order to enable the resumption of learning activities in the affected areas.
As is the case globally, the impacts of COVID 19 are all encompassing, and present challenges across multiple fronts – ranging from operational  ( movement restrictions, lengthy quarantines )  to personal  ( concerns over physical wellbeing / family separation ) , and logistical  ( market disruptions, remote working modalities ) .
Wheat flour, rice, sugar and vegetable oil – all components of the reference food basket – more than doubled between June and January 2020. In terms of y o y variations, price of vegetable oil and sugar – both imported – more than tripled at SYP 2,911.3 and SYP 1325, respectively. Price of rice went up by 188 percent  ( SYP 1423 ) , while price of wheat flower increased by 227 percent  ( SYP 939 ) .
During the reporting period the lockdowns on Jdeidet al Fadl in Quneitra and Ras al Ma'ara in Rural Damascus, were lifted after reports that sufficient numbers of samples tested negative. Further reports indicate some other recent lockdowns of private and public buildings due to COVID 19 in various locations, including in NES
According to reports the new cases have not had contact with each other; all are further reported to have underlying health conditions and are self isolating in their homes; with immediate family members and recent contacts also in quarantine. Contact tracing is reported to be ongoing.
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
Certainly, life there is terrible for so many refugees. AOAV met residents at one informal camp where the tents stood next to a large, filthy pool of stagnant water. Sometimes it flooded their camps, washing rubbish and human waste through their spartan homes. Biting insects and bedbugs were aplenty. Colds and flus spread through the camps like wildfire, too. And, in a time of COVID 19, such unhygienic and grim conditions offer a terrible breeding ground for infection.
International repatriation flights landing in Damascus and Lattakia international airports from multiple locations are ongoing with approximately 2,950 people repatriated so far – out of a reported 10,000 registered. The most recent repatriation flight reported was aflight for approximately 260 Syrian nationals from Erbil on 16 July.
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
Due to the prolonged crisis in Syria, the public health system is fragile and requires considerable support to reinforce its capacity to support a potential outbreak of COVID 19
[ Feb 2nd NES ]  Cross line operations require the UN to seek Syrian government permission for every delivery, project, and convoy from government held areas to those held by the Kurdish led authorities. The Syrian government has often withheld or delayed permission, prohibited certain medical and other supplies from reaching non government held areas, and prevented UN agencies from carrying out essential projects in these areas. An example of theSyrian government's obstruction is its refusal to allow UN agencies to establish Covid 19 testing labs in northeast Syria. Furthermore the logistics of cross line delivery are significantly slower than cross border operations, requiring travel across longer distances and in less feasible conditions.
The crisis has also disrupted national routine surveillance with currently EWARS the only timely surveillance system for communicable diseases
13 FSL Cluster members delivered emergency food assistance to 297,646 recently displaced people and returnees between 21 June and 21 July: o Seven FSL Cluster members distributed 32,388 Emergency Food Baskets to reach 173,252 people; o Seven FSL Cluster members distributed 23,790 ready to eat  ( RTE )  rations to 119,254 people; o Three FSL Cluster members distributed 5,140 cooked meals to 5,140 people.
In June 2020, the price of WFP's national reference food basket price averaged SYP 84,095. All 14 governorates reported average food basket price increases compared to January 2020 and to June 2019.
At the Sexual Reproductive Health Technical Working Group, Health Cluster members are receiving increasing reports of families giving pre pubescent girls hormonal medication to speed up puberty, so that they can marry and bear children. It is believed that this is a result of the desperate economic situation and the stresses/impact of COVID 19.
According to WFP VAM data, the price of an average food basket in June was the highest on record, on average costing 48 per cent more compared to May, and 240 per cent more when compared to the same time in 2019. In June, the highest rises were recorded in Quneitra  ( up 78 per cent ) , Rural Damascus  ( 62 per cent ) , and Deir Ez Zor  ( 61 per cent )
A partner has completed light rehabilitation of WASH systems at Dar'a  ( Al Bassel Education Centre ) , and is progressing work at the Health Institute in Deir Ez Zor. WHO continues to deliver case management trainings  ( resuscitation and ventilation management ) . Over the reporting period, 50 health care workers were trained in Damascus. Plans are underway to train a further 448 healthcare workers at 226 primary heathcare centres.
Throughout H1 2020, the informal exchange depreciated from SYP 1,028/USD in January to SYP 2,500/USD in June, skyrocketing between March and June. The Lebanese financial crisis has contributed to the depreciation of the SYP observed throughout H1 2020, including the increased volatility in June.
In May, some 960,000 people benefited from bread assistance programmes by FSL members across 16 subdistricts in northwest Syria. Some 50 percent of beneficiaries were in Dana and Maaret Tamsrin sub districts
UNICEF supported over half a million people in Aleppo, Rural Damascus, Homs, and AlHasakeh governorates through installing and cleaning of WASH facilities, desludging septic tanks, and rehabilitating the sewage systems inside camps, in addition to emergency water trucking. Activities were constrained by the impact of COVID 19 and the devaluation of the Syrian currency, however it is expected that the target will be fully achieved by the end of the year
While KIs in all 109 assessed communities  ( 100% )  reported schools closed as a result of COVID 19 preventive measures from local authorities, KIs in 17%3 of communities reported lack of teachers as another reason schools were not in session the whole month prior to data collection. Moreover, further barriers were stated such as education not being provided after a certain age  ( reported in 26%3 of assessed communities for residents and for IDPs ) , early or forced marriage  ( 18%3 for residents, 16%3 for IDPs )  and child labour  ( 18%3 for residents, 16%3 for IDPs ) . Missing personal documentation to enrol was also reported as a specific barrier for IDP children in 17% of communities
Schools in northwest Syria reopened on 6 June after being closed for nearly three months; since 14 March in the Idleb area and since 16 March in northern Aleppo governorate. The summer semester is planned to continue until midAugust. To mitigate against the risk of COVID 19 transmissions, measures are reportedly in place to avoid large congregations of students and to ensure physical distancing in classes, while classroom hours have been halved.
The Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arabic Republic reiterated the calls made by Secretary General Guterres and High Commissioner for Human Rights Bachelet to ease or waive sectoral sanctions imposed on countries to ensure access to food, essential health supplies, and COVID 19 medical support. Syrian victims and survivors needed and deserved justice, as defined by and for themselves, and an end to the rampant impunity.
The Turkish military operation in the Northeast Syria in October 2019 forced several NGOs to evacuate their international staff and halt the majority of activities due to the volatility and uncertainty of the situation.
Subsequent analysis also showed that there is no significant difference in the spending on hygiene items between households who have received information on COVID 19 and those who have not
• The FSL Cluster established three area coordination groups to enhance the coordination among its members in Idleb, in Afrin and A'zaz Jarablus Al Bab areas. These groups will be ad addition to the Livestock Technical Working Group  ( LTWG ) , Agriculture Technical Working Group  ( ATWG ) , Bread and Bakery Coordination Group  ( BBCG ) , and the COVID 19 focal points group. The aim is to maximize coordination, avoid any potential overlapping, and exchange the knowledge, challenges, success stories, and lessons learned.
In three quarters of all assessed locations, people did not receive any information about humanitarian assistance. Indeed, in 50% of assessed communities KIs noted that information on how to register for aid was one of the most important information gaps among households.
During a 7 July videoconference meeting*, the Council announced that a draft resolution  ( document S/2020/654 ) , presented by Belgium and Germany, which would have enabled humanitarian assistance to continue to pass through the Bab al Salam and Bab al Hawa border crossing until 10 July 2021, was not adopted owing the negative vote of two permanent Council members.
The Government of Syria  ( GoS )  continues to maintain a widespread easing of preventive measures introduced throughout May, albeit with some recent changes. On 13 July, following confirmed cases of COVID 19 among judiciary and staff, authorities announced a reduction in daily court sessions in the Justice Palace.
Medical services remain scarce and facilities are insufficiently equipped; for example the Kurdish authorities only have 150 ventilators for the entire Northeast Syria
COVID 19 prevention needs: o Cleaning of education facilities that are accessible to children and/or adults again; o Clean WASH facilities in schools  ( in coordination with the WASH cluster ) ; o Hygiene and basic health sensitisation at home, printed and/or through social media in coordination with Risk Communication and Community Engagement  ( RCCE )  efforts; Continued physical re planning of school infrastructure, especially in camps, taking into consideration adequate physical distancing and to prevent large gatherings of children; o Maintain adjusted modalities for education services  ( classes etc. )  to incorporate physical distancing and prevent large gatherings.
Following the hibernation of Emergency Programme Immunization  ( EPI )  activities at some centres, WHO guidelines were shared with implementing partners and health directorates in order to monitor rigorously the routine vaccination and to apply infection prevention and control  ( IPC )  measures. Health Cluster members working in vaccination will continue providing services. While six to 22 teams out of 132 suspended their vaccination activities for three days as following the confirmation of the first positive COVID 19 case, all teams are now operational and apply full IPC measures. All EPI teams are trained on using preventive measures and social distancing and they are monitored by supervisors
As preventive measures have been lifted across Syria, the RCCE is working with partners to continue to engage the public on the ongoing risks of COVID 19 and to continue to promote behavioral initiatives such as hand and respiratory hygiene, physical distancing and voluntary quarantine/isolation where feasible and appropriate.
To meet their basic needs, households were reported as limiting non essential expenses and resorting to coping strategies such as borrowing money from friends and family. Households' increased economic vulnerability reportedly contributed to heightened protection risks for children, including child labour and forced and early marriages.
Available humanitarian assistance seems to have only partially addressed the challenges faced by households. In fact, only 27% of assessed communities received assistance in June according to KIs. Food was reportedly the main type of humanitarian assistance provided  ( 96% of the total assistance provided according to KIs ) , and people in very few communities accessed other types of aid.
June findings highlighted reduced households' purchasing power, which was likely due to limited work opportunities and increased prices following the depreciation of the Syrian Pound  ( SYP ) . Both internally displaced people  ( IDPs )  and the resident population were largely dependent on waged labour, and low wages constituted the main barrier to accessing sufficient livelihoods. Unaffordability was consistently reported across sectors and was often the main obstacle to accessing goods and services, including sufficient food, essential NFIs and healthcare.
In Hasakeh governorate, the price of some medicines increased substantially, while several pharmacies closed due to supply disruptions.Health concerns remained high for vulnerable population groups, which is particularly worrying given no district meets the emergency threshold of at least 10 hospital beds per 10,000 people.
Food was the predominant type of aid provided where assistance was available. Households in over 90% of these communities reportedly received insufficient assistance. At the same time, KIs indicated that in 69% of the communities that received aid, households were not aware of humanitarian assistance feedback and complaints mechanisms.
Unaffordability was the main reported barrier for people to access essential non food items. While widely available, house cleaning and personal hygiene items were commonly reported as unaffordable. In particular, the majority of people was reportedly unable to afford washing powder, detergent for dishes, cleaning liquids for the house and soap in more than three communities out of five
In fact, REACH May Market Monitoring conducted between 11 21 May showed a 26% increase in hygiene products prices in the last month. Likely factors contributing to the price increases include the regional reliance on imports, increased demand due to COVID 19 mitigation measures, and the depreciation of the SYP.
This month, access to water remained a challenge for households across assessed communities. KIs in over half of the assessed communities reported that not all households had access to sufficient water. The piped water network was the most commonly reported source of drinking water. Yet, 36% of the assessed locations were reportedly not connected to a water network.
Among those connected to a network, water from the network was not available to households in one fifth of communities. Trucking was the second most commonly reported source of drinking water, while its high price was also a key barrier to accessing sufficient water. To cope with insufficient water, households reportedly limited other expenses and used money to cover water related costs.
Economic downturn continued to impact access to basic necessities for households across NES. The continued economic pressure and the fires affecting crops led to an increase in the purchase price of wheat. Competition for domestically produced commodities and the depreciation of the SYP disrupted market functioning and decreased households' purchasing power.
Due to the pandemic, a COVID 19 Global HRP  ( GHRP )  to address direct and indirect public health consequences on the population has been developed, with inputs from WHO, IOM, UNDP, UNFPA, UNHABITAT, UNHCR and UNICEF, and the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.
In Idleb and Dana sub districts, 111,480 students and 654 teachers have been provided with awareness raising on COVID 19 and received information, education and communication  ( IEC )  and sterilisation materials; o 21,779 students, teachers and parents sensitised on prevention of COVID 19;
Since December 2019, health actors have slowly returned to the Al Hol camp with some healthcare provision and essential services resuming in the camp. However, in January 2020, the United Nations Security Council decided to reduce the international border crossings in opposition controlled territory, used for the delivery of humanitarian aid, from four to two, which further complicates humanitarian assistance. This precarious context is now further disrupted by COVID19.
In the reporting period, UNHCR supported two community led initiatives in Jebel Saman, Aleppo reaching 150 children and youth, including 40 adolescent girls with information on COVID 19 and hygiene kits. UNHCR also provided awareness raising and protection support to 2,027 outreach volunteers across thirteen governorates reaching 46,924 persons of concern through a variety of platforms. Outreach volunteers also conducted 1,991 physical visits, with appropriate precautions, to the most vulnerable individuals who could not be reached through other modalities. Seventeen protection partners also shared 92 COVID 19 related posts on Facebook, which were subsequently reshared 2,034 times.
The Syrian MoH has indicated it would seek support to expand capacity to accommodate repatriation returns for the mandatory 14 day quarantine.
Suspension of schools due to COVID 19 impacted on the quality of children's education.
Currently 1,271 sentinel sites report cases through the EWARS system across all 14 governorates. With the support of WHO, MoH is conducting active surveillance utilizing a network of surveillance officers across 13 governorates, who are in regular contact with and actively visit private and public health facilities to monitor admissions
For COVID 19: o There is an urgent need to increase the testing capacity by bringing more PCR kits, extraction kits and viral transport equipment. There will be more demand on testing in the next period as a result of people fearing being infected, for tracing contacts and for active screening to contain the virus.
There is a need to ensure that precautionary measures are rigorously implemented at community level such as appropriate use of masks, hand washing, physical distancing, avoiding mass gatherings and other measures as recommended by WHO and the COVID 19 taskforce. o There is a need to enhance the local procurement and production of masks aligned with the COVID 19 taskforce recommendations and WHO's global guidelines for mask use.
To date, 432 RRT personnel in 13 governorates have received dedicated training, including refresher training, on COVID 19 case investigation, sample collection and referral, with further trainings planned at the governorate level in July. In NES, five RRTs are active in AlHasakeh, five in Ar Raqqa and four in Deir Ez Zor, while Menbij/Kobane is being covered from Aleppo
A NES NGO has completed core COVID kit distributions in all collective centres in Hassakeh, however, there is currently a gap in ‘top up' kits at 19 collective centres. Coverage of remaining collective centres in Hassakeh Governorate is particularly limited, with no COVID 19 related IPC response so far planned in 35 centres.
In the reporting period, WHO and UNICEF provided support to isolation centres in Lattakia, through delivery of IEC materials, PPEs, sanitizers and disinfectants. Mobile teams to provide mental health / psychosocial support services for children and older persons are further planned
In NWS  ( as of 15 May ) , a total of 117 mental health and psychosocial support  ( MHPSS )  services  ( both fixed and mobile )  continue to be provided across 26 sub districts and 66 communities through 18 partner NGOs. An ongoing Mental Health Gap Action Programme  ( mhGAP )  refresher/roll out training  ( including MHPSS service provision during COVID 19 )  has reached a total of 78 PHC doctors  ( 68 females and 10 females )  in Afrin, Azzaz, and Idleb.
Despite the challenging environment UNICEF continued to deliver in Syria, adjusting operational modalities to ensure the delivery of critical humanitarian assistance during escalations of violence as well as the COVID 19 pandemic. Distribution methods have been adapted to reduce face to face contact, and awareness raising efforts on COVID 19 risks and precautions were scaled up. Virtualization of in person meetings and activities remains in place, including for coordination and awareness raising, education and case management services.
A WHO partner is conducting monitoring visits to trained health facilities ensuring the endorsement of IPC standard measures in place and providing inquired IPC on job coaching and technical support to health facility manager and senior health professional staff
In Aleppo Governorate, of the 31 informal settlements mapped, no response is reported in 14 of these while lack of additional water provision and handwashing facilities at thehousehold level are reported as a gap in all 31 settlements. In Raqqa Governorate, there are an estimated 2,800 HHs across 19 informal settlements not receiving any additional assistance related to COVID 19 where Covid 19 kits will be distributed in the coming two months by one NES NGO.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Interim Government  ( SIG ) , the civilian authority administering the Idlib area, which is under the control of Hay'at Tahrir Al Sham, said on April 26 that it had conducted 243 tests since the beginning of the pandemic and that all of them turned out negative.
Development, printing and distribution of information, education and communication  ( IEC )  materials is continuing, in addition to awareness raising on social media, WhatsApp, radio and television channels, and direct community engagement/personto person, including during distributions and in mosques and churches
WHO continues to work closely with Syrian MoH technical teams, health and WASH partners on a daily basis to monitor, plan and assess the incident management system functions. To support the MoH's announced plans to establish quarantine and isolation for treatment centres in all governorates, WHO completed inter sectoral mapping in coordination with departments of health.
On April 26, the government lifted the quarantine that had been imposed for around a month on the city of Mnin in the suburbs of Damascus. The city was shut down after one person there died from the virus. The only other city to have been quarantined is Sayyida Zeinab, which remains closed.
To enhance diagnosis and prioritize increased testing capacity, WHO continues to support the CPHL in Damascus
Precautions against a potential spread of the virus have been scaled up in response to identified cases, including restrictions on movements, gatherings, commercial activities, and inperson education services.21
Supporting the aquaculture sector in Raqqa through “cash for work' projects in seven selected locations. The objective is to encourage fish farming, enable fish farmers to sustain their business and provide residents with fish at reasonable prices. The budget of that project is estimated at EUR 785,000 and beneficiaries are estimated at 1,194 family members of fish farmers. The enhanced food security could benefit up to 110,000 people.
The number of confirmed cases remains in the hundreds – so still a relatively low level. The true number of cases is certainly higher; limited testing capacity, compared to what is available in neighbouring countries, and a reluctance, among some people, to acknowledge an infection masks the real scale of the outbreak.
The economic crisis, which I will come on to, is deepening poverty and pushing more people into humanitarian need. 4.6 million people are receiving monthly food assistance; more than 8.9 million medical procedures have been conducted; and more than 1.6 million children have received help with their education.
The Syrian economy, devastated by nearly a decade of conflict, has entered a period of extreme fragility, marked by exchange rate volatility, high inflation, dwindling remittances, and lock down measures to contain COVID 19. For the year as a whole, the economy is expected to contract by more than 7 per cent this year.
Market monitoring by the World Food Programme recorded a 48 per cent increase in the average price of a standard reference food basket between May and June. Food prices are 240 per cent higher than in June last year. What this means is that families across the country can no longer afford the very basics. And food security and nutrition indicators clearly reflect that.
UNICEF has expanded awareness volunteer campaigns to reach university campuses as they have reopened, and during national exams, supported awareness campaigns at 5,000 exam and accommodation centres hosting students. In addition to support detailed in previous reports, WHO launched the first of 16 planned capacity building workshops for 480 health care providers at eight university hospitals in Damascus on best practices during COVID 19.
To date, humanitarian partners have been informed by local authorities  ( Governors and DoHs )  of 32 identified quarantine facilities and 50 isolation spaces across 13 governorates. At the central level, the Syrian MoH has announced 14 fully equipped isolation centres are now operational, with a cumulative capacity of 531 beds, including 423 isolation beds, 108 intensive care unit  ( ICU )  beds, and 87 ventilators. The 32 quarantine centres have 1,235 beds