nlp-thedeep/humsetbias huggingface dataset:
As of 24 July, almost 3,000 samples had been tested for COVID 19. Precautions against a potential spread of the virus have been scaled up in response to the identified cases, including restrictions on movements, gatherings, commercial activities, and in person education services. These measures are crucial to contain transmissions of COVID 19, though they may intensify humanitarian need by complicating humanitarian response and through their impacts on local markets, income generating opportunities and vital services.
In Syria, 43 laboratory confirmed cases have been reported by authorities to date; on 21 April the Minister of Health  ( MoH )  stated that all positive cases announced to date had been from Damascus and Rural Damascus governorates. The first positive case was announced on 22 March, with the first fatality reported on 29 March, with subsequent fatalities reported on 30 March and 19 April. The most recent cases were announced by the MoH on 21 April. As of 29 April, the MoH has also announced 21 recoveries to date.
The COVID 19 pandemic compounds the urgent need for lasting peace and stability in Syria, she said, adding that nationwide calm will allow for a more robust response to the pandemic. Noting that Syria's economy is in danger of collapse, she said it was under intensified pressure arising from unilateral coercive measures.
Protection issues are reportedly on the rise as the situation for people in northwest Syria grows more desperate, with increasing psychosocial stress, poverty and lack of employment opportunities compounded by the effects of COVID 19 related limitations
As of August 12, the Syria based Kurdish Self Administration had confirmed 144 cases in northeast Syria's Aleppo, Dayr az Zawr, Al Hasakah, and Ar Raqqah governorates, including seven deaths. Several confirmed cases are medical staff in Al Hasakah's Al Hol camp, which hosted approximately 64,700 people as of early August, more than 50 percent of whom are children younger than 12 years of age.
As of August 11, the SARG Ministry of Health had confirmed 1,327 cases, including 53 resultant deaths, in SARG held areas. Additionally, as of August 12, health actors had confirmed 47 COVID 19 cases in opposition held areas of Aleppo and Idlib, following the northwest region's first reported case on July 9, according to the Early Warning, Alert, and Response Network, a disease surveillance system comprising local health authorities, the UN World Health Organization  ( WHO ) , and other health stakeholders.
Official devaluation of Syrian Pound: SYP 434/USD 1 in November 2019, SYP 1,250/USD 1 on 16 June 2020. Informal exchange rate of Syrian Pound: SYP 1,800/USD 1 on 01 June 2020, SYP 3,200/USD on 08 June 2020, SYP 2,500/USD 1 by end of June 2020.
USAID/BHA partners are also providing risk awareness sessions, distributing cash assistance and essential hygiene supplies, establishing mobile medical units, and supporting infection prevention and control measures countrywide.
Lockdowns on Ras al Ma'ara town in Rural Damascus, first imposed on 7 June following a cluster of confirmed cases, and on Jdeidet al Fadl in Quneitra, imposed on 20 June, remain in place. At the time of writing, a number of public areas in Aleppo also remained closed, following the death of a COVID 19 patient on 27 June. Further reports indicate some other recent closures of public buildings due to COVID 19 in various locations, including mosques.
The increase in cases countrywide, particularly those with unknown or untraceable exposure, represents potential widespread community transmission in parts of Syria, the UN reports. In response to the recent rise in cases, health authorities, particularly in northern Syria, have revised COVID 19 mitigation measures and re imposed movement restrictions in some areas.
Humanitarian actors continue to receive unverified reports concerning additional possible cases, as well as information indicating that in some areas, existing healthcare facilities have been unable to absorb all suspected cases and/or healthcare facilities are suspending surgeries or adapting wards to accommodate increased numbers of COVID 19 patients. Unverified reports have also been received of an increase in obituaries, death notices and burials. While the UN is not in a position to verify this information; it is of note that official cases confirmed by the MoH have more than doubled in the last three weeks   indicating that community transmission is now widespread.
In NES, local authorities have also eased preventive measures with restrictions only remaining at borders, as detailed above. Travel is now permitted, and religious centres are allowed to open after disinfection.
• Closures of schools due to COVID 19 compound the problem. Schools in northwest Syria reopened on 6 June after closure since 14 March in the Idleb area and since 16 March in northern Aleppo governorate, with the summer semester planned to take place until mid August. Measures are reportedly taken to avoid the large gathering of students at once to keep social distancing in classes, to limit the attendance hours by half.
Humanitarian actors, including USAID/BHA and State/PRM partners, continue to support COVID 19 mitigation and response efforts in Syria, including through health and WASH activities.
It comes on the back of an equally troubling decision the Security Council made in January of this year when it closed the Syria/Iraq border crossing that the UN was using to reach 1.4 million Syrians
USAID/BHA partners are supporting health facilities with COVID 19 isolation and treatment services, enhancing 3 water supply and sanitation infrastructure at IDP sites, increasing water trucking to IDP sites to allow for additional handwashing, and providing essential medical equipment to health facilities.
At a time when humanitarian needs in the NW of the country have never been higher, the Council has effectively shut down the most direct access route to food, shelter and medical assistance that the majority of more than three million Syrians in the northwest depend on for their survival. We fear that this decision will increase the suffering of those in need, who are overwhelmingly women and children.
On 17 June, the Central Bank of Syria devalued the official exchange rate for the second time in six months – most recently from SYP 704 to SYP 1,256 to US$ 1. In some areas, local authorities recently announced local adoption of the Turkish Lira as an accepted currency, including to purchase groceries and pay salaries, in light of the weakening SYP.
Otherwise, the daily curfew remains lifted, as has the travel ban between and within governorates. Markets, restaurants, cafes, gyms, parks, theaters, cinemas and most leisure facilities remain open, so long as precautionary measures are adopted. Mosques and churches are allowed open, so long as physical distancing is observed. Public and private transportation services have also resumed, as have universities and institutions. As per previous reports, broad based restrictions are not anticipated to be re imposed due to economic and social impacts, however localized lockdowns in specific hotspots, such as previously enforced in Jdeidet al Fadl in Quneitra and Ras al Ma'ara in Rural Damascus, cannot be ruled out
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, all 14 governorates reported monthly price increases of 40 per cent or more, with the highest rises recorded in Quneitra  ( up 78 per cent ) , Rural Damascus  ( 62 per cent ) , and Deir Ez Zor  ( 61 per cent ) . Shortages of some commodities have also been reported.
While KIs in 19% of communities reported usage of piped water networks, 50% of communities were reported to utilise water trucking as their most common source of drinking water. In communities where barriers to accessing sufficient water were reported, 83% of responses cited the high price of water trucking as problematic. The high cost of water was linked with reported negative coping strategies, such as bathing less and/or washing laundry less frequently  ( reported by KIs in 47% of communities each ) . Modifying typical hygiene practices may impact the prevention of COVID 19.
32,809 mothers and caregivers received information and prevention measures related to COVID 19; 14,806 mothers and caregivers were counselled on breastfeeding in context of COVID 19
254 staff of partners trained on programmatic adaptations in the context of COVID 19  ( Community based Management of Acute Malnutrition  ( CMAM ) , IYCF E, surveillance, etc. ) ; 554 staff of partners received PPE tools  ( masks, gloves, hand sanitisers, etc. ) .
Since January, UNHCR has sent across the border nearly 150,000 core relief items kits and shelter materials to assist nearly 770,000 individuals. As humanitarian needs increase, despite COVID 19, UNHCR has quadrupled its emergency response and support to the people in north west Syria. In 2020, through its partners, UNHCR has provided protection services, such as information dissemination and referrals, to nearly 97,000 individuals.
Key challenges encountered by Nutrition Cluster members in adjusting their operations for COVID 19 according to the Cluster guidance include lack of personal protective equipment  ( PPE ) , lack of infrared forehead digital thermometers to facilitate isolation at facilities, inadequate WASH services and mobility restrictions.
TheCOVID 19 outbreak and continued economic downturn will cause further deterioration of the nutrition situation during the second half of 2020, as result of dysfunctional markets, limited livelihood opportunities, inflation, low purchasing power, increasing food insecurity and disruption of access to health and WASH services.
Of a total population of 4 million people in north west Syria, there around 2.6 million IDPs, who are estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance. New and protracted IDPs share the same urgent needs, in an area that has limited shelter options and where the fighting has caused the destruction of civilian infrastructure, including health facilities, schools, bakeries, and has disrupted the provision of basic services
In early June, MoSAL reported that one time payments of SYP 100,000 had been disbursed to approximately 5,000 people. On 24 June, MoSAL announced a second tranche of payments to 18,731 people would occur on an unspecified date.
In light of an increase of COVID 19 cases throughout the various areas, as of 17 August, humanitarian access and border crossings remain impacted as authorities in control, as well as neighboring countries continue to implement or re inforce precautionary measures. Most land borders into Syria remain closed with some limited exemptions, including commercial and relief shipments, humanitarian and commercial cargo, humanitarian personnel, students, and medical cases.
WHO continues to increase PPE supplies in Syria, with a focus on protecting health workers. To date, WHO has delivered over 1.3 million PPE items, including surgical masks, gloves, reusable heavy duty aprons, gowns, head covers, alcohol hand rubs, medical masks, and goggles
As of 14 July, the Syrian Ministry of Health  ( MoH )  confirmed 417 cases of COVID 19, including 19 deaths and 136 recoveries. An additional six cases have been reported by local authorities in north east Syria  ( NES ) , while to date four cases has been registered in north west Syria  ( NWS ) .
On 13 August, Jordanian authorities announced the closure of the Jaber border crossing between Syrian and Jordan for one week in an effort to curtail imported cases from Syria following a recent increase in cases in Jordan. International commercial passenger flights remain suspended, however, domestic commercial cargo and passenger flights are ongoing. Access to Rukban from within Syria remains under discussion with the various parties while individual departures are being catered to, particularly emergency medical cases. The border crossing point with Jordan remains closed, curtailing access to the UN clinic.
COVID 19 Response: • According to WASH COVID 19 reporting matrix – latest updated information: 24 partners, 110 Locations, 854 Inputs o 89%   Response changed because of COVID 19 o 80%   Increased the amount of Water o 83%   Adapted Hygiene Promotion activities o 59%   Increased the amount of soap o 15%   Increased the amount of Laundry detergent
720,000 food parcels being distributed in northwest Syria between April and June include bar soap with 720,000 food parcels and stickers with COVID 19 prevention measures pasted on 420,000 of them.
In this regard, life saving food assistance to 3.5 million people has continued with adjusted distribution modalities, as has agricultural and livelihoods programs.
In June, UNHCR's partners distributed a total of 25,264 non food item  ( NFI )  kits  ( 16,182 NFI kits in Idleb and 9,082 in Aleppo )  and 9,084 tents  ( 1,335 in Aleppo and 7,749 in Idleb )  to assist 180,824 conflict affected and displaced people. Moreover, 20,770 people were assisted with 4,154 hygiene kits in Idleb Governorate.
The WASH cluster is working with the CCCM and Shelter Clusters to ensure joint planning and installation of new camps with requisite WASH services. The immediate gaps in 21 sub districts for some 172,000 IDPs are as below: o 142,747 IDPs lack water trucking  ( many more IDPs sharing existing water supply of host communities and other IDPs ) . o 137,434 people need public latrines rehab/construction. o 172,157 people need recurrent solid waste management. o 170,620 people need hygiene kits.
Needs: • Organisations responding to the needs of the affected population in northwest Syria require a reliable and consistent transshipment service that facilitates the delivery of life saving cargo from Turkey into the region. • Ensuring the safety and health of the staff working at the transshipment points by following WHO guidelines on mitigating COVID 19 risks at transshipment points
The latter has contributed to a significant depreciation of the Syrian pound  ( SYP ) , which reached its lowest informal exchange rate against the US Dollar in early June  ( SYP 3,200 to US$ 1 ) . As a result, prices of essential goods and services have surged, further impacting a population already struggling to make ends meet.
The GoS continues to maintain a widespread easing of preventive measures introduced throughout May, albeit with some ongoing changes reflecting the rise in COVID 19 cases. On 26 July, following an increase in Damascus and Rural Damascus, authorities announced that prayers for funerals in mosques would be suspended until further notice in both governorates. On 2 August, the Ministry of Endowments announced Friday and regular prayers in Damascus and Rural Damascus were suspended for 15 days beginning on 3 August. The suspension was lifted on 16 August. The daily curfew remains, however, lifted, as has the travel ban between and within governorates.
On 16 April, WHO EMRO shared information indicating that a 53 year old man from Al Hasakeh City who had been admitted to Qamishli National Hospital on 27 March had tested positive and later died on 2 April. However, according to MOH, all cases reported from areas outside GoS control will not be included in the national line list of cases, regardless of where the testing is performed.
In accordance with WHO guidelines and local health authorities, the Logistics Cluster has put in place measures at the transhipment hubs to mitigate the risks of COVID 19 to the teams on the ground, including new handwashing facilities for drivers and workers, promoting social distancing, raising awareness through visibility items and a staff rotation system. The Logistics Cluster has delivered workshops to external partners on safe use and disposal of PPE and how to keep safe and protected against COVID 19 at the transshipment hubs.
According to the World Food Programme  ( WFP ) , the price of an average food basket in early June stood at SYP 76,327, approximately 35 per cent higher when compared to the previous month – and over 200 per cent higher when compared to the same period in 2019
As reported in previous updates, even as restrictions have eased some Health and Nutrition sector partner activities continue to be particularly impacted by preventive measures.
Mosques and churches, markets, restaurants, cafes, gyms, parks, theaters, cinemas and most leisure facilities remain open, provided precautionary measures are adopted. Public and private transportation services have also resumed, as have universities and institutions.
UNHCR organized 15 transhipments through the Bab Al Hawa and Bab Al Salam border crossings: The distributions of the items transshipped  ( 22,000 NFI kits and 15,860 tents )  will target a total of 205,160 people. From January to June 2020, UNHCR transshipped NFIs, tents and hygiene kits to assist 769,160 people in north west Syria.
As of 22 April, some 1,500 tests have been conducted by the Central Public Health Laboratory  ( CPHL )  in Damascus, including 24 from Al Hasakeh, 22 from Deir Ez Zor and two from Ar Raqqa governorates. In addition, the MoH has only officially confirmed cases in Damascus and Rural Damascus, leading to confusion over the status of samples from NES and other areas of Syria.
It is estimated that 80 per cent of the population in these sites is comprised of women and children; over 22,000 IDPs are persons with specific needs and around 52,000 people are elderly. In June, 84 new sites were added to the ISIMM and 20 sites were inactivated for reasons such as depopulation of sites and their subsequent closure.
To date, there have been no confirmed cases of COVID 19 in north west Syria. As of 29 April, 226 samples have been tested; from Aleppo and Idleb; of which all were negative. WHO and cluster partners are looking into opening additional labs to increase testing capacity.
Aid agencies need better access to the camp to help these children.
Restrictions remain in place at most other crossing points inside Syria. Abu Zendin, Um Jloud and Awn Dadat in Aleppo remain closed, as does Akeirshi and Abu Assi in Ar Raqqa. Al Taiha in Aleppo is reported open for commercial traffic. Ghazawiyet Afrin and Deir Ballut in Aleppo are reportedly open for commercial, military, and humanitarian cargo movement but closed to civilian crossings.
Potential future increased lead time for in transit goods and uncertainty over the availability of medical supplies at local and international markets due to COVID 19.
WHO, acting on the eight pillars of the global WHO Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, has engaged the MoH and health partners to enhance technical capacity and awareness, including on rational use of PPEs, case management, infection prevention and control, environmental disinfection, and risk communication; focused on procuring and enhancing integral medical supplies including in laboratory testing and PPE, for case management and healthcare facilities; and worked to increase awareness, including with vulnerable communities.
Protection partners have also reported reductions in face toface sessions, including for child protection, and challenges in implementing alternative modalities, such as remote case management, due to limited internet connectivity and poor mobile phone coverage in some areas.
Since the start of the COVID 19 pandemic, UNHCR has provided more than 43,300 medical consultations across Syria.
However, at the same time, other humanitarian programs that were specifically impacted by precautionary COVID 19 measures, including essential health care and protection services, have resumed in recent weeks with implementation of measures to ensure safety of humanitarian staff and beneficiaries
The total reported IDP population in June 2020 is 2,658,108 IDPs, whereas the number of IDPs who were reported as having returned to their community of origin is 28,504 IDPs; with Ariha, Ehsem, and Mhambal sub districts recorded as the top three returnee destinations.
In NES local authorities continue to provide exemptions for humanitarian goods and personnel at the Fishkabour/Semalka informal border crossing. However, and as reported previously, on 13 July local authorities closed all border crossing points to NES   with the exception of Walid which remains open for commercial traffic   as a precautionary measure against COVID 19. Humanitarian personnel, students and medical cases are reportedly exempt but subject to a 14 day quarantine on arrival. It was further reported that humanitarian personnel with a quarantine certificate issued in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq  ( KRI )  do not have to undergo quarantine upon entering NES, if entry is within 48 hours of leaving quarantine in KRI.
In May, the Health sector reported supporting 759,802 medical procedures, including outpatient, trauma and mental consultations, and 262,015 treatment courses. UNRWA has reported resuming health services in recent weeks including some limited mental health/psychosocial support  ( MHPSS )  cases
WFP and USAID/BHA funded NGO partners provide monthly food assistance to more than 5.5 million Syrians, including more than 4.5 million beneficiaries inside Syria and 1.1 million refugees across Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey
June was characterized by an increase in fire incidents in IDP settlements, as well as floods and windstorms. Seven incidents affected almost 1,000 families, destroying 575 tents and damaging 405 tents, and injuring 3 people across 40 IDP sites.
UNFPA also continues to provide maternal and neonatal health services and GBV prevention and response services, with 222,668 people receiving reproductive health, awareness raising, MHPSS since March.
The urgent needs were reported as being tents, NFI kits and infrastructure. The Cluster was active in coordinating with its members to better understand the causes of the incidents, increase community awareness about fire risks, identify needs and gaps in the firefighting system, and develop firefighting plans as part of contingency planning
A recent report has suggested that only a fraction of Covid 19 related deaths in Syria have been counted, as one of the main critics of the government's policy was dismissed from his position. A study released on September 15 by a group of researchers from the Imperial College, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the London School of Economics, and others estimated that only 1.25 percent of actual coronavirus deaths in Damascus were being counted.
State/PRM partner the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees  ( UNHCR )  provides medical consultations and facilitates community based health programming at 11 community center clinics and 14 UNHCR run primary health care facilities in Aleppo, Damascus, Hamah, Al Hasakah, Homs, and Rif Damascus governorates.
USAID/BHA supports 12 partners, IOM, and UNICEF, to provide WASH assistance in Syria. USAID/BHA partners distribute essential hygiene items to vulnerable populations and enhance WASH facilities by rehabilitating small scale sanitation and water systems, such as the construction of latrines and handwashing stations, in displacement camps and informal settlements.
The Cluster tracked almost 1.9 million individual displacements between January and June 2020, which include second or third displacements, meaning that some people may have been forced to move multiple times within the same period and that the reasons for movement may vary. The number of displacement movements during the month was above 46,500, mostly to Dana and Atareb sub districts.
In northern Syria, USAID/BHA partners increase access to safe drinking water through emergency water trucking and the distribution of water 5 Million Number of People Reached by USAID/BHASupported Health Assistance during FY 2019 KEY FIGURES 5.5 Million Number of People USAID/BHA Reaches with Monthly Food Assistance in Syria and Neighboring Countries 14 Number of USAID/BHA partners providing critical WASH assistance in Syria 5 storage tanks and water treatment devices. Further, USAID/BHA is supporting UNICEF and four NGOs to bolster COVID 19 response capacity in Syria by increasing water trucking frequency to provide additional water for handwashing and cleaning and distributing additional soap and other WASH commodities to beneficiaries.
As preventive measures have been lifted across the country, the RCCE is working with partners to continue to engage the public on the ongoing risks of COVID 19 and to promote behavioral initiatives such as hand and respiratory hygiene, physical distancing and voluntary quarantine/isolation where feasible and appropriate.
The Shelter/Non Food Items  ( SNFI )  Cluster is led by UNHCR addresses emergency shelter and NFI needs by providing in kind assistance as well as cash or voucher assistance. The Cluster also raises awareness and provides technical guidance on housing, land and property rights relevant for humanitarian shelter activities. The Cluster is co chaired by CARE
Over the reporting period, a second shipment of medical supplies delivered by WHO  ( including wheelchairs, hygiene kits, patient beds and general supplies )  to Qamishli by road was completed, including to the national hospitals in Qamishli, Al Hasakeh, Menbij, Ar Raqqa and Tabqa, the Al Hikmen private hospital in AlHasakeh, and to partners in Qamishli, Ar Raqqa and Al Hasakeh.
Of the total cases announced to date, 10 cases were imported, with 40 having no recent travel history. The average age of people who contracted the virus is 45.1 years  ( ranging from 7 years to 75 years ) , with 50 per cent of cases over 50 years old. Three cases are below 10 years old. When samples were collected, 63 per cent of the cases were symptomatic, with the remainder asymptomatic
WHO continued training. In NES, four trainings for 61 healthcare workers at the Al Hayat and Al Hikmeh private hospitals, as well as the Al Hol and Areesha IDP camps on IPC, waste management, preventive measures, isolation precautions and case management was completed, with planning for similar trainings at isolation centres underway.
In June, Cluster members reported that more than 314,000 individuals received NFI kits, which contain kitchen sets, mattresses and blankets. At the same time, shelter needs of nearly 83,000 people were addressed with activities including emergency shelter assistance and shelter rehabilitation.
As of 15 May, some 3,350 tests have been conducted by the Central Public Health Laboratory  ( CPHL )  in Damascus, and an additional 44 tests by the public health laboratory in Aleppo, 22 in Lattakia and 30 in Homs. The number of confirmed cases in Syria as reported by the MoH does not include cases in areas outside of GoS control, including parts of NES.
In 2020, Cluster members have reported reaching a total of 662,820 people with shelter assistance, including rehabilitation of infrastructure, provision of emergency shelter, shelter rehabilitation and transitional shelters, and seasonal shelter assistance, and around 1.3 million people with NFI assistance like seasonal and/or supplementary, and core NFI distributions.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport announced on September 15, that the Damascus International Airport will resume its operations on October 01. The past week saw several Syrianair flights bringing back Syrian expatriates.
With the increase in fire incidents due to poor electric networking that causes fire hazards, many tents have been damaged. The Cluster and its members are mapping the incidents and delivering tents and NFIs to the affected households.
In an area where some 2.8 million people already rely on humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs such as food, water, shelter, healthcare and education, the impact of these recent developments is entrenching the existing humanitarian needs and creating new ones.
As of 15 May, there have been six reported cases in NES, including one death, one active case and four recoveries. The cases were reportedly all from the same cluster in Hasakeh city. The active case continues to display moderate symptoms and is currently being treated at the Qamishli National Hospital in Al Hasakah Governorate.
In June, Protection Cluster members reported to have provided 146,033 protection interventions to IDPs and affected host community members in 311 communities in three governorates  ( Aleppo, Idleb and Ar Raqqa ) . Key services provided were: psychological first aid for 2,053 girls, 1,761 boys, 1,588 women and 1,580 men; legal awareness raising sessions focusing on housing, land and property and/or civil status documentation for 192 girls, 193 boys, 3,987 women and 3,918 men; integrated/comprehensive case management services for 90 girls, 142 boys, 281 women and 169 men; and referrals to other services for 879 girls, 1,121 boys, 1,637 women and 1,048 men.
To date, 1.15 million soap bars and IPC materials for 11,500 schools have been procured. WASH sector partners continue to deliver increased quantities of soap and hygiene kits. In the reporting period, UNICEF provided a top up to the WFP e voucher programme to enable 1,420 families in Tartous and Lattakia governorates to purchase hygiene items.
Since the beginning of the year, the Protection Cluster and Sub Clusters members provided over 1.5 million protection interventions across 12 districts in Aleppo, Ar Raqqa and Idleb Governorates.
According to OCHA's reporting on 24 April, significant gaps in food assistance have been identified in the region due to challenges related to COVID 19 precautionary measures, funding, and re programming. Humanitarian actors are warning that vulnerable households are relying on negative and emergency coping strategies merely to meet their daily food needs, including the consumption of food items that have limited nutritional value
Another partner provided around 300,000 PPE and 700 disinfection items to cover the needs of 200 health care workers in Al Hasakeh for three months, in addition to 500 baby kits to ensure safe breast feeding in the context of COVID 19 in Aleppo.
As of 17 May, 644 samples from patients were collected in NWS. Of these, 327 were from Aleppo Governorate and 337 from Idleb Governorate through the Early Warning, Alert and Response Network  ( EWARN )  system, and tested in a laboratory in Idelb. All tested negative. The NWS WHO COVID 19 Task Force  ( TF )  is prioritizing the expansion of testing to high risk groups
A flight from Sudan carrying 239 passengers landed in Damascus International Airport on September 07, followed by another flight from Baghdad with 194 passengers onboard on September 11, and one from Egypt on September 14 with 239 passengers. The ministry announced that it has scheduled other trips from Jordan on September 17, Moscow on September 20, and the United Arab Emirates on September 21.
Also, a shipment of Emirati medical aid made its way to Damascus for the third time in two weeks. According to the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, it received on September 11 a shipment of 40 tons of medical equipment from the UAE.
Malnutrition could become an increasing problem. For example, three in ten pregnant or lactating women are acutely malnourished, compared to 1 in 20 in the first half of 2019. Malnourished people have a compromised immune system and are therefore at elevated risk of mortality due to COVID 19. Large gaps in the provision of learning materials and education in camps exist as well.
In NES  ( as of 13 June ) , various IPC measures have been implemented in camps. At the entrance to camps, humanitarian actors have supported the Camp Administration to establish temperature screening points and installed mandatory handwashing stations, with partners providing equipment including thermometric scanners, as well as basic training on medical screening to the guards.
COVID 19 related restrictions and lockdowns have spurred the further loss of job opportunities, particularly for those reliant on daily wage labor or seasonal work, increasing the likelihood of more people being pushed into food insecurity in the coming months
As of 30 June, three functioning reception centres were hosting 3,724 displaced people, including with the provision of food, shelter and WASH services.
A laboratory in Idleb has been equipped to test for COVID 19 samples from the north west area since 24 March. In some instances, samples from the Afrin and A'zaz to Jarablus area of northern Aleppo are sent to laboratories in Turkey for testing. The laboratory in Idleb currently has 5,300 testing kits. Of the 191 tests conducted as of 22 April, all have returned negative. WHO and humanitarian partners have begun the process of capacitating additional laboratories in north west Syria to test for the virus.
In the northeast, the Autonomous Administration in Northeast Syria  ( AANES )  announced today that 966 people have tested positive since the pandemic began to spread, up from 738 last week, including 561 active cases, 357 recoveries, and 48 fatalities. Despite this increase, AANES again allowed public gatherings for weddings, funerals, and similar events
Based on the findings of the CCCM Cluster's multisectoral factsheet in May that evaluated 907 IDP sites, while 91 percent of displaced people had access to potable water, an urgent need was identified for water storage capacity in 865 sites  ( based on 20 litres required per individual for 72 hours ) .
Since March, Mercy Corps teams have increased the amount of soap and water we provide to each family, and have delivered additional water tanks to improve safe water storage. We are also distributing COVID 19 flyers in camps and educating communities on the risks and how to stay safe.
The first case of COVID 19 has been confirmed in Idlib province, according to local health authorities.. Aid workers have feared the appearance of coronavirus in northwest Syria for months. The millions who live in this region are often residing in close quarters, may not have enough clean water for drinking and handwashing, and frequently lack the necessary resources to protect themselves.
In NWS, longer term needs are increasing, including for health, nutrition and education services, even as urgent needs for shelter, food, water, sanitation, hygiene and protection remain. Meanwhile, movement restrictions imposed as precautions are reportedly contributing to an increase in gender based violence  ( GBV )  disproportionately affecting women and girls. according to OCHA on 15 May, including some 500,000 children and nearly 180,000 women.
The increased risk and rise of malnutrition, especially among IDPs, requires much more focus on food insecure households with pregnant women and children under the age of 59 months, young mothers, households with low purchasing power, and support on appropriate diets to help fight the risks of COVID 19 along with a scale up in treatment for acute malnutrition of pregnant and lactating women  ( PLW )  and children 0 59 months
On September 15, the Syrian Interim Government  ( SIG )  indicated that 422 people in Idlib and the Aleppo countryside had been infected so far, including 305 active cases, 114 recoveries, and three fatalities.
The SIG has announced the closure of public utilities, cafés, and restaurants in the town of Jarablus, in addition to the Kafr Takharim hospital in Idlib after a nurse was infected there.
To date, 432 RRT personnel in 13 governorates have received dedicated training, including refresher training on COVID19 case investigation, sample collection and referral. In NES, five RRTs are active in Al Hasakeh, five in Ar Raqqa and four in Deir Ez Zor, while Menbij/Kobane is being covered from Aleppo.
In June, the general relaxation of several COVID 19 preventative measures has continued across the country5 . The daily curfew has been lifted, as has the travel ban between and within governorates – while localized lock downs have been imposed in two areas in rural Damascus in response to clusters of cases
As of 24 June, the Education Cluster reached at least 284,259 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.
Due to exchange rate volatility, regional banking crisis and other factors, including knock on effects of the preventive measures of COVID 19 on the economy, dramatic price rises have been recorded in many basic commodities.
Markets, restaurants, cafes, gyms, public parks, theatres, cinemas and most leisure facilities are now allowed to open, so long as precautionary COVID 19 measures are adopted. Mosques and churches are also open, including for group prayers, provided physical distancing is observed
This finding is dependent on the assumed number of hospital beds available. However, in our sensitivity analysis the best model fit to mortality data was obtained assuming approximately 2,000 hospital beds were available, consistent with the value of 1,935 beds used to generate our central estimates
591 children  ( 268 girls and 323 boys )  were reached with psychosocial support kits, while 373 children  ( 178 girls and 195 boys )  received psychosocial support  ( structured and sustained )  in Aqrabat in Idleb governorate.
WHO is the lead agency and is working to support the MoH in enhancing health preparedness and response to COVID 19, in accordance with the International Health Regulations  ( IHR 2005 ) .
Remittances from abroad, a lifeline on which many Syrians depend, have fallen. Estimated remittances from Gulf States alone are now $2 million per day, down from $4.4 million in 2017, and at least $7 million in 2010.
Public and private transportation services have also resumed, as have universities and institutions. However, a number of public areas in Aleppo remained closed following the death of a COVID 19 patient on 27 June.
Further reports indicate some other recent closure of public buildings due to COVID 19 in various locations, including mosques.
[ September 2020, Overall Syria ]  Considering the known benefits of breastfeeding and the limited evidence we have that the COVID 19 virus is not present in breastmilk; all international guidelines advise that breastfeeding should continue, while applying all the necessary precautions whether infants or mothers were suspected or confirmed to have COVID 19 infection.
Despite confirming the absence of positive cases, the WHO assesses the risk of the pandemic spreading to Syria as very high. One major challenge is the state of the country's healthcare system, which was devastated by the conflict.
A WHO multi disciplinary team is also on stand by to be deployed. On 31 March, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres launched a report Shared Responsibility, Global Solidarity: Responding to the socio economic impacts of COVID 19, which forms the basis of incorporating socio economic impacts as the ninth pillar of the response.
Activities that continued with COVID 19 countermeasures included specialised services such as case management for high risk and individual cases and referrals for child protection, GBV and mine action, individual protection assistance and physical rehabilitation. Where feasible, PSS, legal awareness and counselling on housing, land and property  ( HLP )  rights and civil documentation have also continued  ( in centres, via outreach, and in camps ) .
Adopting the default parameters, we estimate that 1 in 80  ( 1.25% )  deaths due to COVID 19 have been reported in Damascus.. This was determined by comparing the model predicted deaths between 25th July   1st August to the excess mortality under the assumption that all excess deaths are due to COVID 19
Humanitarian cases, i.e. people travelling to KRI to seek health treatment and returning to NES are to be quarantined for a period of 14 days, except for humanitarian workers if they undergo quarantine in KRI 48 hours before entering NES These measures add to cross border movement restrictions already in place before the pandemic, with humanitarian supplies and goods allowed into NES only once a week
If we double our assumed baseline death rate from 32 to 64 deaths per day, we still estimate substantial under ascertainment with an estimated 1 in 50 deaths due to COVID 19 being reported as such.
At least 64,737 children benefited from distance learning in Idleb and Aleppo governorates as an alternative way to continue education during the COVID 19 pandemic; o In Idleb and Dana sub districts, 111,480 students and teachers have been provided with awareness raising on COVID 19 and received information, education and communication  ( IEC )  and sterilisation materials;
[ 30 November، 2020 ,Overall Syria ]  In a statement to SANA, the ministry indicated that the infections toll registered in the country till now has reached at 7887, out of which 3560 ones have recovered while 417 others have passed away.
Due to exchange rate volatility, the regional banking crisis and other factors, including knock on effects of the preventive measures of COVID 19 on the economy, dramatic price rises have been recorded in many basic commodities. According to WFP VAM data, the price of an average food basket in the first half of July was 6 per cent higher than June however gradually reduced over the remainder of the month due to the strengthening of the informal exchange rate. Prices nevertheless remained above those recorded in June and 261 per cent more when compared to the same period in 2019. In July the highest rises were recorded in Idleb  ( up 25 per cent ) , Lattakia  ( 15 per cent ) , and Tartous  ( 11 per cent )
o 21, 779 students, teachers and parents sensitized on prevention of COVID 19 o Since February, 228,878 children from displaced and host community populations received textbooks in Idleb and Aleppo governorates; o 443 teachers and education personnel provided with teachers' incentives o 63 teachers and education personnel were trained on literacy, numeracy and PSS and referral mechanisms; o 227 families have been provided with tents by Education partners to support the relocation of displaced people sheltering in schools, in order to enable the resumption of learning activities in the affected areas;
These measures were to exclude students sitting exams in GoS controlled areas. It is worth noting in this context that on 9 July, the Water Department of Al Hasakeh city administration declared a state of emergency due to insufficient water provision from Alouk water station
These reports vary, but there is consensus that individuals were reluctant to go to hospitals sometime between 17th July  ( 38 )  and 30th July  ( 39 )  due to hospital reaching capacity and having to turn away patients
[ September 2020, Overall Syria ]  The combination of malnutrition, disrupted health systems and poor access to health care due to ongoing hostilities, in addition to poor WASH conditions and overcrowded IDP camps makes the situation extremely dangerous for mothers and young children in North West and North East Syria.
[ October 18, Syria, Fees of entry ]  The device will be in service as of next week, indicating that the device that was provided by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees includes a hundred samples for analysis, provided to a hundred people, and in the event that these samples end and another donor does not provide additional samples, the device will stop working.
For education, here has been a gradual re opening of schools and learning centers in both NWS and NES. In GoS areas, basic  ( 9th )  and high school  ( 12th )  exams started in June in GoS areas for 500,000 students, including around 3,000 students who travelled cross line and from Lebanon to sit their exams
At least 36 schools and temporary learning spaces have been sterilised to mitigate against COVID 19.
“Syria's children have endured unfathomable suffering for almost a decade. They have seen their homes destroyed and their families ripped apart. The decision to allow this vital lifeline of aid to lapse will stop food, medicine and shelter reaching vulnerable families just when the first case of COVID 19 has been announced and parents are struggling to feed their children as they watch the economy collapse around them.
[ October 18, Syria, Fees of entry ]  The Director of Ambulance and Emergency Preparedness at the Ministry of Health of the regime's government, Tawfiq Hassab, said, “The Ministry of Health has set up a device to conduct a Corona test for free for arrivals from Lebanon through the Jdeidet Yabous crossing, who do not have the ability to conduct the analysis.
[ September 2020, Overall Syria ]  The COVID 19 response should also take into account where malnutrition and other risk factors may cause additional vulnerability, this is particularly important in the context of Syria;
Children's lives depend on this. If the border crossings are not reinstated, many families will not be able to eat, will not receive healthcare, and will not find shelter after being uprooted from their homes.
AMMAN   The novel coronavirus  ( COVID 19 )  case load in Syria has significantly spiked in the last two months, reaching 687 cases and 38 deaths across the country at the time of publishing, an over 450 percent increase from the beginning of June
The current testing rate in Syria, 907 tests per million people, puts Syria in seventh from last place for COVID 19 testing globally, just behind Mali.
However, the political fragmentation of Syria means that access to testing is not equal, with northwest and northeast Syria having extremely limited numbers of test kits. If treated as their own countries, northwest Syria and northeast Syria would have testing rates of 682 and 28 per million.
Prior to the COVID 19 crisis, an estimated 80 per cent of people in Syria already lived below the poverty line. According to estimates, 9.3 million people in Syria are now considered food insecure. With the loss of job opportunities due to the impacts of COVID 19, particularly for those reliant on daily wage labour or seasonal work and the continued rise in food prices, it is likely more may be pushed to food insecurity in the coming months
Education Minister Dr. Darem Tabbaa said, in a press conference held in Jawdat al Hashimi School in Damascus on Wednesday, that following the students' cut off from learning, schools will return to open their doors next Sunday in 13rd of current September, indicating that the return of the students to school will be safe and if any symptoms appear on any student, the student will be sent to the School Health Department.
Currently there have been 29 and eight cases of COVID in the northwest and northeast, respectively.
At the same time, testing in northwest Syria is limited, and there have only been 3,297 tests conducted thus far in the area.
Of the total cases, 104 cases were reportedly imported as of 24 July, with 203 reported as secondary cases  ( exposure/contact with a known case ) . According to available MoH data, nearly 28 per cent of cases required hospitalization, including, in some cases, oxygenation or mechanical ventilation in ICU units.
As of 24 July, 44 health care workers  ( eight per cent of reported cases )  tested positive for COVID 19, according to the Syrian MoH, an increase of 26 since the previous report. Of these, 34 were in Damascus, six in Rural Damascus Governorate, two in Aleppo Governorate, and one each in Quneitra and As Sweida governorates.
Humanitarian needs, especially in the northeast of the country, have grown over the last few months, but continued attacks on aid workers, and closure of borders for vital aid to reach those suffering are making conditions more challenging than ever
In a meeting with authorities during the reporting period, it was agreed that key messages going forward should include the assistance to the elderly in light of COVID 19, and necessity for the elderly to remain at home where possible.
While a limited number of humanitarian workers have been able to enter Lebanon from Syria. The crossing points with Lebanon have remained open for humanitarian and commercial cargos. International flights remain limited, while Damascus, Aleppo and Qamishli airports are still operating domestic and cargo flights.
In the north east, the water supply from Alouk water station was again disrupted this month, affecting 460,000 civilians in Al Hasakeh governorate. Low water levels in the Euphrates are adding to the water shortages and disrupting electricity supply.