nlp-thedeep/humsetbias huggingface dataset:
[ 12th Feb 2021, Syria ] The sources added that the Ministry of Health has completed scheduling the names of those eligible to receive the vaccine in the first stage, indicating that the plan provides for the use of only half of the quantity during this stage. The sources confirmed that the Ministry of Health will receive other batches of the Russian vaccine later, after submitting reports on the medical results of the first phase, indicating that the agreed quantity was provided “for free.'
[ 01/02/2021, Overall Syria ]  Main protection issues affecting persons with disabilities as a result of COVID 19 situation are lack of access to services, including due to accessibility and mobility issues and lack of access to health care, including medication to 69.72 % and to 67.69%.
[ 01/02/2021, Overall Syria ]  56% report that also the gender based violence against women and girls has increased.
[ 01/02/2021, Overall Syria ]  Additionally, 45% report that there is a lack of access to health care and services. Other issues that were mentioned include: limitation of movement  ( 40% ) , separation/isolation from family and household members  ( 36% ) , increased negative coping mechanisms  ( 30% )  and forced labor or economic exploitation  ( 23% ) .
[ 01/02/2021, Overall Syria ]  Psychological trauma  ( 76% )  and increased gender based violence against women, girls  ( 55% )  and lack of access to health care and services  ( 45% )  are the most reported protection issues affecting people as a result of COVID 19 situation.
[ 01/02/2021, NES ]  Reports indicate internal crossings in Tal Abiad Ras al Ain remained closed. Restrictions are reported as ongoing at Um Jloud in Aleppo; the Awn Dadat crossing has been closed since October.
[ Dec 2020, NES ]  COVID 19: Restrictions imposed to slow down the spread of the virus such as lockdown have notably affected the delivery of assistance in NES, especially during November. However, distributions were able to pick up during December.
[ 31st Dec 2020, Syria ]  The total funding requirement for Shelter/NFI sector in Syria is 570M, in which only 65$ has been funded and a gap of 36% still remains.
[ 26 June 2021, GoS ]  Health Ministry announced that 37 new coronavirus cases were detected in Syria, 8 patients have recovered while 2 infected persons have passed away.
[ 8 June 2020, Syria ]  One of the major effects of Syria's failing economy has been the depreciation of the Syrian pound  ( SYP ) . From the beginning of the conflict in 2011 to the end of March 2020, the exchange rate fell from 47 SYP per USD to 1,360 SYP per USD, representing a 96.5% decline in value. On 8 June 2020, the pound reached a record low of 3,175 SYP per USD, coinciding with the implementation of the Caesar Act sanctions in Syrian government held areas. Additionally, in a single week in December 2020, the pound further devalued to 2,778 SYP per USD on the black market, demonstrating again its instability. The most significant period of depreciation occurred, when the pound fell 277% from 632 to 2,380 SYP per USD from October 2019 to October 2020, categorized within this report as the ‘rapid depreciation period'.
[ Feb 4th, 2021, Al Rukban camp, NWS ]  Following a regime crackdown on smugglers, access to bread decreased drastically over the past two weeks, several camp residents told Syria Direct. Many worry this unprecedented shortage forecasts a more severe crisis induced by growing food shortages in regime held areas.
[ 27 May 2021, GoS ]  Health Ministry announced on 27 May 2021 that 50 new coronavirus cases were recorded in Syria, adding that 6 patients recovered, and 4 others passed away.
[ Jan 2021, NES ]  Medical supplies and PPE for the isolation area continue to be a gap in Mahmoudli camp.
[ Feb 4th, 2021, Al Rukban camp, NWS ]  “There are only two bakeries in the camp. If the flour stops, the bakeries stop,' Mustafa al Homsi, a 50 year old originally from the countryside of Homs, told Syria Direct. Due to the shortage, only one bakery is operating. The price of a bag of bread, weighing around 800 grams, rose by 50%, from SYP 1,000  ( $0.33, according to the exchange rate in the parallel market of SYP 3,085 per dollar )  to SYP 1,500  ( $0.49 ) .
[ Feb 4th, 2021, Al Rukban camp, NWS ]  So far, the shortage has been mitigated by the fact that several camp residents store flour at home and bake their own bread due to the limited capacity of the camp's bakeries. In addition, alternatives  ( such as rice and bulgur )  remained available.
[  February 16, Lattakia ]  The director of Al Haffa Hospital in Lattakia, Dr. Rami Atira, confirmed to Al Watan that the hospital has returned to normal work by receiving patients and visitors daily, indicating that there are no patients with Coronavirus currently in the isolation department.
[ 16 April 2021, Damascus, GoS ]  Health Ministry announced that 143 new coronavirus cases were recorded, 125 patients recovered and 9 others have passed away.
[ 01/02/2021, Overall Syria ]  76.5% of the respondents report that inability or difficulty to buy basic necessities  ( food, health, hygiene items, etc. )  is one of the basic impacts of the current situation on the served people. Additionally, 70% report inability or difficulty to pay rent, 62% report loss of employment or livelihoods, 42% report inability or difficulty to pay utilities  ( water, electricity, etc. ) , while 41% report a lack of access to health care including health facilities, and 36% report a lack of access to humanitarian assistance/services.
[ Feb 2nd 2021, Syria ]  A damaged electricity network, resulting in frequent electricity reductions, is another factor that will compromise vaccine distribution. Those supplying the vaccine and supporting the rollout will have to take these conditions into account when determining the type of vaccine to allocate and ensure that external monitoring of distribution is available
[ April 2021, NES ]  Among residents in assessed communities overall, healthcare and livelihoods were the highest priority needs reported in April. Likewise, among internally displaced persons  ( IDPs ) , the highest priority needs reported overall were livelihoods and healthcare.
[ 1st Feb 2021, Overall Syria ]  For the sixth straight day, the number of the recoveries from the coronavirus has exceeded the number of the recorded infections as 82 coronavirus patients have recovered, while 48 new cases have been detected and five of the cases registered in Syria have passed away, according to the Health Ministry. In a statement, the Ministry said that the total number of coronavirus cases which have been recorded in Syria has reached 14,096 till now, of which 7,644 cases have recovered and 926 others have passed away.
[ 2nd Feb 2021, Overall Syria ]  For the seventh straight day, the number of the recoveries from the coronavirus has exceeded the number of the recorded infections as 81 coronavirus patients have recovered, while 46 new cases have been detected and three of the cases registered in Syria have passed away, according to the Health Ministry. In a statement, the Ministry said that the total number of coronavirus cases which have been recorded in Syria has reached up to 14,142 till now, of which 7,725 cases have recovered and 929 others have passed away.
On December 15, 2020, the Syrian government submitted an official request to participate in the COVAX facility, a global initiative to expand Covid 19 vaccine access led by the World Health Organization, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations  ( CEPI ) , and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. However, it is unclear whether the submitted plan includes all parts of the country. On January 21, theSyrian health minister said that among the most important conditions for Syria's procurement of the vaccine is to ensure that it does not “impact Syria's sovereignty.' That suggests that the government is unlikely to have included the northeast– which it does not control – in its plans.
[ Jan, 2021, Overall Syria ]  1.3 million people were found to be severely food insecure; an increase of 124 percent year on year. An additional 1.8 million people were assessed to be at risk of falling into food insecurity.
[ Feb 2nd 2021, NES ]  Through this buffer, humanitarian or civil society organizations or UN agencies could request additional doses. The volume is expected to be 5 percent of the COVAX doses supplied globally, which means the buffer could have up to 100 million doses by the end of 2021. COVAX will use the Global Humanitarian Needs Overview and relevant inter agency guidelines and data to identify target populations. Non UN affiliated groups should have access to this humanitarian buffer, given that the UN can only operate in northeast Syria under the serious government imposed restrictions, Human Rights Watch said.
[ 16th Feb 2021, GoS ]  In Government of Syria  ( GoS )  controlled areas of Syria, 14,906 laboratory confirmed cases have been reported by the MoH to date: 7 in Ar Raqqa; 35 in Al Hasakeh; 59 in Deir Ez Zor; 248 in Quneitra; 708 in Hama; 839 in As Sweida; 937 in Dar'a; 1,128 in Tartous; 1,457 in Rural Damascus; 2,098 in Lattakia; 2,237 in Aleppo; 2,245 in Homs; and 2,908 in Damascus. The MoH also announced 981 fatalities and 8,754 recoveries.
[ 25th March, 2021, Overall Syria ]  Nationwide, 69 percent of households across Syria selected food as most pressing aggregated priority need, followed by fuel  ( 58 percent ) . 41 percent of households identified access to income generating activities as their third priority need, followed by electricity  ( 33 percent ) , health services  ( 28 percent )  and rental subsidies  ( 15 percent ) .
[ Dec 2020, NWS ]  The number of positive COVID 19 cases rose steadily in north west Syria in December, surpassing the 20,000 confirmed positive cases.
[ 17 Feb 2021, NES  ( Deir ez Zor )  ]  According to a resident of Gharanij village, they have been buying drinking water from tankers for nearly seven years, the price of the tank has recently reached between 6,000 SYP and 7,000 SYP per tank.
[ 18/02/2021 Gos ]  The Ministry of Damascus, in a statement, said that the total number of the coronavirus cases recorded in Syria has climbed to 15,001 till now, of which 8,903 have recovered and 987 cases have passed away.
[ 17 Feb 2021, NES  ( Deir ez Zor )  ]  After equipping the station, ten additional neighborhoods have been provided with drinking water, as the station fed only three neighborhoods in Gharanij town before. The number of people now supplied by the station is approximately 25,000, compared to 33,000 prior to the conflict, according to the head of the Municipality of Gharanij village.
[ 17 Feb 2021, NES  ( Deir ez Zor )  ]  The second largest water station in the eastern countryside of Deir ez Zor   Gharanij water station   has returned to work. The station has been supporting only 10% of its full capacity during the past seven years. In the eastern countryside of Deir ez Zor there are 33 model stations, three of which are in operation, according to the head of the Municipality of Gharanij village.
[ 17/02/2021 Gos ]  In Damascus, The Health Ministry announced on Thursday that 45 new Coronavirus cases were registered in the country, adding that 72 patients infected with the virus recovered while 3 others passed away.
[ January 2021, NWS ]  Access to Electricity 5 6 hrs per day was the most commonly reported range for hours of electricity accessible to households  ( reported by KIs in 35% of communities ) . 49% % of communities where KIs reported the main network is partially or completely not functioning as a barrier for electricity access
[ 17/02/2021 Gos ]  In Damascus ,the Ministry said, in a statement, that the total number of Coronavirus cases in the country climbed to 14,951 of which 8,826 cases have recovered and 984 have passed away.
[ Jan 2021, Al Hasakeh governorate ]  In Serekaniye Camp, Camp Overview Number of individuals: 8,515 | Attitudes and behaviors of camp population Awareness of COVID 19: Everyone COVID 19 perceived as important issue: A few Awareness of social distancing: A few People engaging in social distancing: A few
[ January 2021, NWS ]  KIs in 68% of communities where barriers to accessing electricity were reported, cited the high cost of fuel for generators as a common challenge.
[ 23rd March 2021 ]  Despite the gradual easing of preventative measures across the country since then, only marginal improvements have occurred given substantial increases in out of pocket expenses for related costs such as transport and medicine. Although families in Hama  ( 37 per cent ) , Al Hasakeh  ( 24 per cent ) , and Rural Damascus Governorates were found to be the most affected by COVID 19 containment efforts overall, the uneven application of these measures has meant the impact on humanitarian programmes and – by extension – affected communities has been felt at different intervals.
[ Dec 2020, NWS ]  Moreover, during the year, 100,000 conflict affected people were assisted with 20,000 hygiene kits by UNHCR's protection partners in Idleb and Aleppo. During the distributions, outreach teams shared important information on how to prevent the spread of COVID 19.
[ Dec 2020, NWS ]  The economic downturn, combined with the COVID 19 pandemic and closure of commercial crossings with areas under the control of the Government of Syria, impacted the protection situation of displaced communities, which already faced obstacles in accessing livelihoods. Due to difficulties to address basic needs, households are at risk of adopting negative coping mechanisms, which often disproportionally affect children.
[ Jan 2021, Overall Syria ]  The national average price of a standard reference food basket increased by eight percent in January 2021 compared to December 2020 and was at SYP 121,066.
[ February 14, Syria ] The representative of the World Health Organization in Damascus, Dr. Akjemal Maktomova, added: The truth is, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization has approved the delivery of the vaccine to Syria and expressed its intention to provide initial coverage of up to 3 percent of the target population. Allocations will increase as donations and vaccine supplies become available on the global market.
[ February 14, Syria ] The representative of the World Health Organization in Damascus, Dr. Akjemal Maktomova, added: The Kovacs program will only supply vaccines that have been previously authorized by the World Health Organization under the Emergency Use List  ( EUL ) . As only two vaccines have been approved by the World Health Organization, namely Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna, and both require a cold chain  (  70 ° C and  20 ° C respectively )  which considered ineffective in Syria.
[ 23rd March 2021, NWS ]  In North west Syria, nearly 11 per cent of mothers are malnourished, and in some areas in Idleb this rate could go as high as 40 per cent. Maternal malnutrition is worse among displaced and hard to reach populations.
[ 29 April 2021, NES ]  The Kurdish governed region of northeastern Syria will run out of Covid 19 testing equipment in a week, the International Rescue Committee  ( IRC )  warned on 29 April 2021. The IRC said the semi autonomous region's only Covid laboratory, located in the city of Qamishli, "could be forced to stop Covid testing in less than seven days due to a critical shortage" of kits. "This would have a devastating impact on testing capacity, with health professionals no longer able to identify new cases, track trends, or gain an understanding of the true spread of the disease   just as cases are surging," it said.
[ March 14, GoS ] A group of doctors decided to create a group "Your Health is a blessing", which is a closed group that includes about 46 thousand followers and a large group of supervising doctors from various medical specialties, "dermatology, digestive, thoracic, ophthalmic, children, urology, gynecology, surgical and other specialties." The group aims to provide medical advice through social media, free of charge.
[  February 16, Lattakia ]  The director of Al Haffa Hospital in Lattakia, Dr. Rami Atira, added: With the return of the General Authority of Al Haffa Hospital to work normally after it was designated as a special center for Corona patients since the start of the pandemic, today a zero statistic has been recorded for patients with the virus more than a week ago.
[ February 14, Syria ]  And whether Syria will receive the vaccine through "COVAX", the representative of the organization indicated that, in order to obtain the vaccines through the COVAX platform, there is an application process. Currently, Syria has submitted a request to obtain the vaccine, with priority given to the target population of up to 20 percent, and they are health workers who deal with patients directly and form the first line in facing the epidemic, and the older group  ( 55 years and over )  and people with chronic diseases.
[ Jan 2021, Overall Syria ]  The informal national average price of transport diesel continued to rise, increasing by 12 percent since December 2020 and by 139 percent since July 2020  ( six months ago ) , reaching SYP 1,134/litre. Moreover, the informal price remains five times higher than the formal price  ( SYP 174/litre ) .
[ 3 Feb 2021, NES ]  The co presidency of the Executive Council of North and East Syria issued a decision stating that all decisions issued by the co presidency of the Executive Council of North and East Syria, related to the total or partial lockdown imposed due to the Covid 19 pandemic, are to be suspended, as of February 4, 2021.
[  February 16, Lattakia ] a member of the executive office concerned with the health sector in Lattakia Governorate, Abdel Hassan Sharrouf, confirmed to Al Watan that the medical situation in health hospitals in terms of Corona is excellent, and the injuries are very few compared to previous periods.
[ Dec 2020 ]  However, this key input's price is quite high in Tartous and Rural Damascus governorates comparing to others, reaching an 800 SYP per kg from the local market. In Homs, the selling price of wheat seed has recorded 610 SYP per kg in December  ( 21.8 percent m o m decrease )  comparing to 780 SYP per kg in November 2020.
[ Dec 2020 ]  Homs governorate continues to record the highest selling price of 272 SYP per kg in December 2020. The price for granular nitrate fertilizer remained constant m o m across all the monitored governorates.
[ Dec 2020, Syria ]  In governorates where granular top dressing fertilizer is available, the Agriculture Bank provides almost third of the farmers' need of fertilizers, this will push the farmers to purchase the rest of their requirements from the local market at an average price of 1 237 SYP per kg, such exorbitant price limits smallholder farmers from buying fertilizers.
[ March 14, GoS ] The platform of the medical community "Med Dose" It is an open group that defines itself as a platform aiming to the advancement of the health and medical system, and it shares the latest medical information around the world and seeks to spread medical culture in society. The group of doctors requires supervisors to attach the information published to a reliable medical source with the addition of the name of the doctor or pharmacist. The group includes about 72 thousand members in addition to a group of supervising doctors from various specialties. The group also publishes the experiences of doctors and pharmacists with patients who suffer from various diseases, provides the follower with correct medical information, and denies rumors and false information.
[ Feb 1st, 2021, NES ]  It is worth noting that chronic crises, bread and fuel shortage in particular, still hit the Syrian regime's controlled areas, further burdening the Syrians who have to wait for hours in front of bread bakeries to get their bread allocations. In this context, Observatory activists had monitored considerable congestion in front of “Al Ba'th' automated bread bakery in regime controlled areas in Al Qamishli city in Al Hasakah countryside, amid growing discontent among the people awaiting there.
[ March 14, GoS ] In another aspect of its activity, the Med Dose platform publishes posts about cases that need financial assistance to secure the cost of treatment, such as cancer patients or Corona patients, with the aim of collecting the necessary donations to provide patients in need with medicines and medical equipment in difficult circumstances from the high prices that affected oxygen cylinders and medical materials and led to Some exploited people's need to increase monopoly and profits.
[ 25 MAY 2021, NES ]  % of SDs with majority of population in need of; 
  53 % Soap or Water, 
  74% masks and 
  83% disinfectant.
[ 19 March, 2021, GoS ]  Health Ministry announced that 152 new coronaviruses were registered in Syria and that 88 cases recovered while 11 patients infected with the virus passed away.
[ Feb 1st, 2021, NES ]  According to SOHR sources, there are several factors behind the worsening bread crisis, including the following:  Suspension of providing state subsidized high quality bread to the city.  Flour shortage, as the Syrian regime does not provide flour to the three automated bread bakeries.   The increasing price of bread baked in the stone bread bakeries, which many of residents relied on.   Administrative corruption.  Looting of bread bakeries' allocations of flour and yeast.  The increasing population of the city, as several people has been displaced from Ras Al Ain and Abu Rasin to Al Darbasiyyah
[ 24 March, 2021, Overall Syria ]  The Central Bank of Syria  ( CBS )  has introduced a new, preferential exchange rate for international agencies at twice the official rate as the Syrian pound trades near record lows against the dollar on the black market. International NGOs can now exchange their foreign currency at a rate of SYP 2,500 for each US dollar, compared with the official exchange rate of SYP 1,256 per dollar that applies to banks and exchange companies. The decision on March 22 was criticised as unfair by Syrians whose remittances from abroad remain subject to an exchange rate of SYP 1,250.
[ March 14, GoS ]  Doctor's Stethoscope This platform is one of the most popular medical platforms that provide medical advice and has 412,000 followers. In addition to providing medical information, the platform publishes scientific articles and news of the latest medical developments. These groups are run by a volunteer medical team made up of students of the College of Medicine and medical specialists from various medical sectors. The number of supervisors is 150 doctors from various Syrian governorates. The team also aims to support medical initiatives, spread news related to hospitals, and transmit correct medical information in light of the spread of wrong medical information.
[ 1Jan 31Dec 2020 NWS ]  Since December 2019, more than 940,000 people, of which 194,000 are women and 566,000 are children, have been displaced in northwest Syria, in addition to the 2.7 million people who were already displaced. Of the four million people living in the northwest, 2.8 million require urgent humanitarian assistance. 2020 was a particularly dangerous year for children in the northwest. January to March 2020 saw the highest number of child casualties in a single quarter since the conflict began. In late 2020, violence again intensified after the March ceasefire, increasing the risk for children and humanitarian workers. In one week alone in November 2020, at least five children were reportedly killed in northwest Syria, including a four year old who was on her way to school. In the same week, two aid workers   partners of UNICEF   were killed while heading to a UNICEF supported child friendly space.
[ Dec 2020, Overall Syria ]  The government has allocated a specific quantity of diesel fuel for farmers in an endeavour to support the agriculture sector. The farmers continue to access fuel through a subsidised price of 180 SYP per litre. There was a significant m o m increase of 4 percent in the average diesel fuel price within the local markets, reaching 17 610 SYP per 20 litres.
[ March 14, GoS ]  The "sterilise it" initiative

It is the most prominent initiative in Syria to confront the spread of Corona virus that began its activities with the beginning  Corona virus spread in Syria in March 2020. This initiative seeks to provide medical support and education to people through a network of volunteers and donors, by disseminating health awareness information and providing field medical support.
[ 1Jan 31Dec 2020, Overall Syria ]  According to a socio economic impact assessment, only 4.5 per cent of surveyed households indicated that their children had access to e learning platforms during the school closures while about 70 per cent used at least one form of distance learning as of April/May 2020. Sadly, due to the above mentioned reasons, child labour reportedly increased by about seven per cent, and children with disabilities suffered a dramatic decline in access to rehabilitation programmes, physiotherapy and psychosocial counselling. In September 2020, through the Child Protection Area of Responsibility for northwest Syria – about 82 per cent of interviewed key informants reported that children are engaged in child labour that prevents them from attending school.
[ 01/02/2021, Overall Syria ]  Local authorities continue to provide exemptions for humanitarian goods and personnel at the Fishkabour/Semalka informal border crossing, and in other limited cases, including urgent medical cases to cross to Iraq, however other movements generally remain restricted.
[ 1Jan 31Dec 2020, Overall Syria ]  For most of 2020, Syria's economy experienced an unprecedented downturn with a sharp decline in the value of the Syrian pound  ( SYP )  by 74 per cent compared to 2019. In November 2020, the SYP depreciated by 11 per cent in the informal exchange rate market and reached SYP 2,638/USD.
[ March 14, GoS ]  The idea of "sterilise it" began with a group on social networking sites and gained wide fame in Damascus and its surroundings, as the number of its followers reached more than 273,500 members. The group includes 11 supervisors, 50 volunteers and 20 doctors. It provides a 24 hour telephone medical service, where doctors are available to answer patients immediately regarding symptoms of the Coronavirus, whether by providing the necessary medical advice or securing a doctor who will pay a home visit to the patient in need, free of charge. In addition, the team secures oxygen cylinders for the needy world, according to the assessment of the doctors present in the team, and a sterilization team is also secured to sterilize homes that had people with Corona virus.
[ Dec 2020, Overall Syria ]  Food prices increased by 13 percent during December, reaching a level 236 percent higher than December 2019 and 29 times higher than the pre crisis average, USAID/BHA partner the UN World Food Program  ( WFP )  reports. During the month, 44 percent of households reported poor and borderline levels of food consumption, representing a 38 percent increase in food insecure households compared to December 2019. Female headed households accounted for the highest levels of inadequate food consumption, according to WFP.
[ 16/02/2021 Gos ]  In Damascus, the official coronavirus infection toll, announced by Health ministry, registers a significant decrease during this February in comparison with registered cases in last January, meanwhile the suspected cases which are admitted to the hospitals decrease. According to Health Ministry statistics, the first half of last January recorded 1508 infections compared to 858 ones as from the beginning of February until yesterday.
[ 01/02/2021, NES ]  To date, 58 confirmed cases have been reported in camps and IDP sites. This include 13 confirmed cases reported among residents at Al Hol, in addition 11 cases at Mahmoudli, six cases at Areesha, eight at Washokani and two at Tweina. At Al Hol, four residents are reported to have sadly died, while nine cases recovered. In addition, in some camps, including Roj and Al Hol, camp staff have been reported to have tested positive for COVID 19.
[ 03/02/2021, Overall Syria ]  The World Heath Organization is deploying teams across Syria for a vaccination programme that will be rolled out both in government held areas and territory outside state control, perhaps as soon as April.
[ 03/02/2021, Overall Syria ]  Like other countries that are awaiting vaccines through COVAX, Syria can also obtain supplies directly from companies. But so far it has yet to announce any such bilateral agreements. Health officials say Damascus has been engaged in talks with Russia and China over vaccine supplies.
[ 16/02/2021, GoS ]  The Health Ministry od Damascus, on Monday announced that 43 new coronavirus cases were recorded in Syria, adding that 75 coronavirus patients recovered and 3 passed away.
[ 16/02/2021, GoS ]  In a statement, the Damascus Ministry said that the total number of the coronavirus cases registered in Syria has reached up to 14,906, of which 8,754 have recovered and 981 others have passed away.
[ 12th Feb 2021, Syria ]  The exchange rate of the Syrian pound against the US dollar has fallen again due to the deterioration of the Syrian economy. On Thursday it recorded the lowest exchange rate in history. The pound against the dollar recorded a low exchange rate Thursday evening, touching 3,410 for sale and 3,360 for purchase.
[ 12th Feb 2021, NWS ]  The exchange rate of the pound against the US currency in Aleppo was 3,400 for sale and 3,350 for purchase. In Idleb, which is considered the least affected by the low exchange rate of the local currency, the pound recorded a price of 3,370 pounds for sale against the dollar, 3,330 for purchase.
[ 12th Feb 2021, Syria ] The continued decline in the value of the pound is sending the prices of basic food and supply commodities soaring throughout the country, registering the highest prices, which makes citizens unable to purchase basic food needs.
[ 14th Feb 2021 ]  Reliable medical sources in the Syrian regime held areas have told the Syrian Observatory that 28,000 new confirmed coronavirus cases were recorded in the last few days, while 900 new deaths were recorded in the same period.
[ 14th Feb 2021 ]  According to SOHR latest statistics, based on reports obtained from reliable medical sources on the ground in regime controlled areas, the total number of confirmed COVID 19 cases has reached 305,800, of which over 108,000 were recovered, and 14,513 died.It is worth noting that regime Ministry of Health' official statistics announced 14,820 infections, of whom 975 people died and 8,600 were recovered.
[ 24 December 2020   5 January 2021, GoS ]  Two hundred interviews were conducted in the area extending between the Rukn al Din and Al Mazra'a neighborhoods in the northern part of Damascus. This area is considered to have a relatively high standard of living; the average monthly rent for a medium sized residential apartment during the study period ranged between 300,000 and 400,000 Syrian pounds  ( SYP ) . This is more than ten times the average monthly lump sum wage for government employees with university qualifications and above  ( about 35,000 SYP according to the latest wage scale issued by the Syrian Ministry of Finance at the end of 2019 ) .
[ January 2021, NES ]  Effects of COVID 19 on livelihoods sectors in the community  ( by % of communities ) : 19% said None of the available livelihood sectors were affected and 81% said At least one of the available livelihood sectors was partially or totally affected.
[ Jan 2020 2021, Overall Syria ]  Since January 2020, the value of the Syrian Pound has plummeted, due to a number of factors, which include the COVID 19 pandemic, US led international sanctions, and economic crises in neighboring countries  ( especially Lebanon ) . As a result, imports have contracted and the country has been effectively cut off from the rest of the world, threatening the supply of food and other essential goods.
[ 2nd March, Gos ]  The Ministry of Damascus added that the total number of infections recorded in the country has reached up to 15,642 till now, of which 9,880 have recovered, while 1,032 have passed away.
[ 8th March, GoS ]  The Health Ministry in Damascus has announced that 56 new coronavirus cases were recorded in Syria, adding that 81 coronavirus patients recovered and 5 others passed away.
[ September 2020, NWS ]  According to a late September Global Food Security and Livelihoods Cluster assessment, 4.3 million people in northwest Syria, the region's approximate total population, required food security and livelihoods assistance, an increase of 1 million people compared to 2019.
[ January 2021, NWS ]  64 days is the Number of days the average day labourer would need to work to earn the monthly cost of basic SMEB items.
[ February 5, NES ]  He added that people go out to the SDF control areas to buy bread because it is not available in the two cities, pointing out that the “Al Masaken and Al Rabee' bakery in the city of Qamishli in addition to the “Al Baath' bakery in the city of Hasaka, stopped working 9 days ago, due to lack of material Flour as a result of the blockade imposed by the "SDF".
[ 15th Feb, GoS areas ]   almost all the sub districts in the GoS  region mentioned SUFFICIENCY OF COVID 19 HEALTH SERVICES to be less sufficient and insufficient.
[ Dec 2020, NWS ]  With the Syrian Pound losing value in comparison to other currencies, with an increase in hostilities, and with harsh weather conditions that have been severely damaging IDPs' shelter and properties, the population is now facing more difficulties in addressing their basic needs.
( Idlib )  The needles price ranges between 30 and 40 US dollars.
[  20 Feb, GoS ]  Health Ministry in Damascus, announced that 49 new coronavirus cases were registered in the country, 80 patients infected with the virus have recovered while 2 others have passed away.
[ 17th Feb 2021, Overall Syria ]  An estimated 12.4 million people are estimated to be facing acute food insecurity and of these, 1.3 million people are considered to be severely food insecure in Syria.
[ July 2021, NES ] KIs in 14% of communities reported a lack of privacy for women and girls at health facilities as a barrier to healthcare access.
( Dara'a )  Nabil, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for security reasons, said that he does not feel safe to go to barbershops due to the risk of COVID 19 transmission through tools, or products.
[ January 2021, NWS ]  KIs in 81% of communities where barriers to accessing sufficient water were reported, cited the high cost of water trucking as a common challenge
[ January 2021, NWS ]  High price of suitable food or formula was the most commonly reported challenge to feeding young children  ( reported by KIs in 94% of communities ) .
[ Feb 2021, Overall Syria ]  Food prices in Syria continue to rise, according to the latest WFP data released in February. The nationwide average price of WFP's standard reference food basket increased by eight percent from December to January, reaching a new record high of SYP 121,066. The increase in food prices is mainly attributed to the continued depreciation of the SYP/USD exchange rate in the informal market as well as the continuing fuel shortages across the country.
[ January 2021, NWS ]  Most commonly reported coping strategies for a lack of food  ( by % of communities ) : 67%   Relying on less preferred food or lower food quality, 62%  Skipping meals and 61%  Buying food with money usually used for other things.
[ January 2021, NWS ]  Winter related findings % of communities where winter related shelter inadequacies for residents and IDPs were reported: 46% residents and 65% IDPs said Lack of heating, 39% residents and 60% IDPs said Lack of insulation from the cold and 6% of IDPS said Shelters are prone to flooding.
[ 15th Feb, NSAG areas ]  In the NSAG region, POPULATION AT HIGH RISK TO COVID was found to be highest in Dana subdistrict in Idleb governorate with 1,003,977 at high risk to COVId 19 followed by Idleb subdistrict of Idleb governorate WITH 248,808 individuals at risk. Also, the lowest risk was seen amongst Ziyara sub district of Hama governorate with 150 at risk.
[ 15th Feb, NSAG areas ]  almost all the sub districts in the NSAG region mentioned SUFFICIENCY OF COVID 19 HEALTH SERVICES to be less sufficient and insufficient.
[ 21st Feb, Gos ]  The exchange rate of the Syrian pound declined on Sunday February 21st, 2021, significantly surpassing the 3,400 pound barrier against the US dollar. The exchange rate of the pound against the dollar in the Damascus markets recorded 3,430 pounds for sale and 3,400 for buying.
[ 17 Feb 2021 Overall Syria ]  Close to 50% of the Syrian population report having lost one or more sources of income because of the economic downturn and the COVID 19 pandemic.
[ 11th March, 2021, GoS ]  Health Ministry in Damascus announced that 70 new coronavirus cases were registered in the country, 86 patients infected with the virus have recovered while 6 others have passed away.
[ 11th March, 2021, GoS ]  The Ministry said, in a statement, that the total number of Coronavirus cases in the country reached 16257 of which 10711 cases recovered and 1085 passed away.
[ Jan 2021 Overall Syria ]  Over the last year food prices across Syria have soared, and the price of basic items has increased by 236 percent, just as the value of the Syrian Pound has plummeted. On average, the price of oil has increased from 1000 Syrian pounds in Jan 2020, to 5000 Syrian pounds in Jan 2021
[ 18 March, 2020, GoS ]  Health Ministry announced that 120 new coronaviruses were registered in Syria and 90 cases recovered while 10 patients passed away.
[ 16th Feb 2021, NES ]  There remain significant concerns among the humanitarian community around the possibility of a second wave of COVID 19 in NES, particularly against the backdrop of new more infectious virus variants combined with increased complacency among the population and local authorities the risks presented by COVID 19 in NES.
[ 17th Feb 2021, Overall Syria ]  There are 14.2 million people in need  ( PiN )  of some form of food and agriculture assistance, compared to 9.8 million in the previous year i.e. a 45% increase in the sector PiN.
[ 17th Feb 2021, Overall Syria ]  In terms of availability of agriculture inputs, Jalal highlighted that there is general limited availability of fertilizers  ( especially Urea )  and fuels  ( particularly Diesel )  across most governorates. The shortage of seed, livestock feed, veterinary services and agro chemicals such as pesticides  ( pesticides, herbicides and fungicides )  is quite varied across Governorates
[ 17th Feb 2021, Overall Syria ]  In terms of prices, just a few agricultural inputs remained constant and with a very inputs recording some reduced prices. However, the majority of agriculture input prices continued to increase, especially fodder, nitrate fertilizers, herbicides and diesel. This can be attributed to the devaluation of the local currency, since most of these inputs are imported.
[ 22 Feb, NWS ]  Medical agencies and relief organizations are working in Idleb and the countryside of Aleppo to secure coronavirus vaccines, amid news of the possibility of starting the vaccination process next month.
[ January 2021, NWS ]  Access to Health Services: 54% % of communities where KIs reported that the households did not have access to health services in the assessed location
[ Jan 2021, Overall Syria ]  The observations noticed that four out of fifteen food items' prices has generally increased in January 2021 in variable proportions. Potato recorded the highest price value within the changing ratio comparing to the prices in December 2020. sunflower oil comes second .
[ Jan 2021, GoS & NE Syria ]  The average selling price of bread increased in Tartous at 150 SYP per pack  ( 20 percent m o m increase ) , the highest selling price was recorded in Hasakeh governorate at 320 SYP per pack.
[ January 2021, NWS ]  Going to a pharmacy instead of a clinic was the most commonly reported coping strategy for a lack of healthcare  ( reported by KIs in 87% of communities ) .
[ Jan 2021 ]  The average price of sugar increased 13 percent m o m in January 2021 across the monitored locations. Dará registered the highest average selling price of 2 000 SYP per kg  ( 43 percent m o m increase ) , the prices has recorded a 32 percent m o m increase in Rural Damascus, ranging between 1 400 to 1 850 SYP per kg.
[ March 7, Al Hassakeh ]  Private sources told Syria TV that the "SDF" put its hand on grain stores, silos and mills in the city of Qamishli, which prompted the regime to cut support for bakeries which made the city enters in another bread crisis.
[ March 7, Al Hassakeh ]  Abd al Khaliq, a resident in Qamishli, said that the government of the regime hastened to take revenge on the “SDF' and the “Autonomous Administration,' as it stopped distributing flour to bakeries, and that caused the price of a bag of flour to rise to 63,000 Syrian pounds, from 23 thousand.
[ March 7, Al Hassakeh ]  Abd al Khaleq confirms that more than 40 bakeries were closed in the city of Qamishli, al Jawadiyah and al Qahtaniyah, and as a result, a kilo of flour increased from 1,300 SYP to 2,700 SYP, and it is possible that the price of a bundle of bread will rise to 3,000 SYP.
[ February 5, NES ]  Private sources told Syria TV today, Thursday, that the people of the "security squares" controlled by the regime in the cities of Hasaka and Qamishli are suffering from securing bread, due to the failure to bring flour to them despite the Syrian Democratic Forces  ( SDF )  lifting the siege imposed on the two cities.
[ Jan 14 to 20, NWS ]  Heavy rainfall and resultant flooding affected more than 121,000 people across Aleppo and Idlib governorates, according to the UN. The flooding caused the death of one child and injuries to at least three other people, damaged more than 300 internally displaced person  ( IDP )  sites, damaged or destroyed approximately 21,700 tents, and destroyed food and household items. In addition, the flooding blocked or damaged numerous roadways near IDP camps, impeding humanitarian access to the sites. The UN also reported the flooding temporarily displaced thousands of people, many requiring immediate and long term food, shelter, and relief commodity assistance.
[ 1Jan 31Dec 2020 NES ]  In northeast Syria, a total of 64,619 people remain in Al Hol camp11, 94 per cent of whom are women and children and 53 per cent are children under the age of 12. In addition, about 2,370 people, including children in Al Roj camp, continue to require urgent humanitarian assistance. The majority of those living at Al Hol camp, including children, are comprised of 48 per cent Iraqis, 37 per cent Syrians and 15 per cent third country nationals.
[ 14 march 13 Sept 2020, Overall Syria ]  COVID 19 has brought severe disruption to basic services. Moreover, the government closed all schools as a preventative measure between 14 March and 13 September. Continuing health and nutrition preventative as well as surveillance activities became a major challenge. Simultaneously, the number of mental health consultations tripled from March through May compared to the same period in 2019, posing a great concern.
[  31 January 2021, NES ]  The downward trend in new cases of COVID 19 first witnessed in November has continued over the last two months with a month on month reduction of new cases and tests. The 7 day rolling average has also declined significantly from over 50 per cent at the peak of transmission, to just 12 per cent as of 31 January. However, although the reduction in new cases and the positivity rate does indicate a decline in transmission, the low levels of testing  ( with just 228 )  tests conducted over the 7 days to 31 January does hamper efforts to establish an accurate picture of infection prevalence in NES.
[ 21 APR 2021, NWS ]  Northwest Syria received its first batch of coronavirus vaccinations through the global vaccine sharing platform COVAX on Wednesday with inoculations set to start May 1.
[ 1Jan 31Dec 2020, Overall Syria ]  Due to restrictions on the movement of supplies, many children were not able to access or receive learning materials at home. The issue was particularly compounded by the lack of access to electricity and internet in many parts of the country, particularly in rural areas of Homs, Hama, Aleppo and across Idlib.
( GoS, 2020 )  24% of public hospitals not functioning and 28% partially functioning. 31% of public health centers not functioning and 21% partially functioning.
[ Jan 2021, Overall Syria ]  Compared to last year, the price of the reference food basket has significantly increased across all 14 governorates. Homs recorded the highest increase  ( up 288 percent ) , while Deir ez Zor recorded the lowest increase  ( up 173 percent ) .
[ 1Jan 31Dec 2020 NWS ]  In northern Aleppo, particularly in Afrin, Jarablus and Al Bab, a number of civilians, including children, were killed and injured as a result of an increase in sporadic fighting between and within armed groups and the indiscriminate use of firepower between the various Non State Armed Group controlled Groups.
[ Feb 9th 2021,  [  GoS ]  Subsidized bread is simply not available in sufficient quantities across the country. The availability of bread varies from one area to another, with the crisis being particularly acute in Damascus and its countryside, likely due to the large number of residents in the area, and Daraa in the south. In these regions, many bakeries are now open only a few days per week due to wheat shortages.
[ Feb 9th 2021,  [  GoS ]  Even the little wheat the Syrian government is able to purchase often gets diverted. The shortage of bread and flour and the high price they can fetch on the black market  ( 5 10 times the subsidized price )  encourage state employees, most of whose salaries are now worth less than $20 per month, to steal wheat and bread and sell it on the black market.
[ April 3, Damascus ]  Waiting lists and intensive care departments have become crowded with Corona patients in Damascus hospitals, as the occupancy rate of intensive care beds designated for Corona patients has reached 100%, amid an increase in cases of infection.
[ Dec 2020, Overall Syria ]  Throughout half of 2020, the Syrian pound depreciated in the informal exchange rate market from SYP 2,262/USD in July to SYP 2,795/USD in December, while the official exchange rate remained stable throughout the year at SYP 1,250/USD. The gap between the official and the informal exchange rates has more than doubled towards the end of the year.
[ Dec 2020, Overall Syria ]  In half of 2020, the price of WFP's national reference food basket averaged SYP 92,214. Despite the high cost, the price of the food basket remained stable between July and October 2020, but then increased towards the end of the year. At the governorate level, Aleppo recorded the highest 6 month increase  ( up 56 percent ) , followed by Tartous  ( up 38 percent )  and Homs  ( up 37 percent ) . In terms of actual costs, Idleb recorded the most expensive food basket throughout half of 2020  ( 32 percent higher than the national average ) ; while Deir ez Zor recorded the least expensive food basket  ( 12 percent lower than the national average ) .
[ Jan Feb 2021, NWS ]  Close to 142,000 IDPs across 407 IDP sites in north west Syria were reportedly affected by flooding between 14 January and 4 February. Over 25,000 tents were either destroyed or damaged. The flooding has resulted in one death and three injuries
[ Dec 2020, Overall Syria ]  The price of fuel in the informal market has recorded a significant increase during the second half of 2020, especially after October. The informal national average price of transport diesel reached SYP 1,015/litre in December 2020– that is almost more than five times higher than the formal price of diesel  ( SYP 174/litre ) .
[ 2 May 2021, GoS ]  Health Ministry announced 2 May 2021 that 80 new coronavirus infections were recorded in the country, 179 patients have recovered and 5 have passed away.