The Corona threat and war in Syria
The Syrian Civil Platform
These days, it seems like the world is very small because no one can hide from the threat of the Corona virus that is spreading across the world at a rapid pace. The speed and rate of this virus is alarming, and the absence of a treatment has made the virus one of the most dangerous ones in human history. The threat to global security has prompted countries to work together and take joint measures to reach common solutions to de-escalate this worldwide epidemic.
As part of efforts to try to prevent or slow down the spread of the Corona virus, some governments have declared a State of Health emergency, closing their borders and mobilizing national wide medical and preventative resources and initiatives to protect and save their citizens. The virus has already spread in some provinces within Syria, which raises the level of insecurity and vulnerability of Syrians on top of the conflict that already exists.
Syria, which has been torn apart by internal warfare, has turned it into a battle field between multiple conflicting entities, isolated from one another and the world. Syrians suffer from difficult economic conditions because of war and it has exhausted its resources in addition to the siege imposed on Syrian’s from their own government. The health system has deteriorated as it was consumed and many hospitals destroyed in the war. The Corona virus has the ability to put Syrian lives in more danger, as conflicting parties are continuing their violent efforts, especially in the Northwest. The SCP calls on all parties to stop their military operations and declare a long truce and unite efforts to confront the spread of the Corona virus, especially in camps for the internally displaced.
IDP Camps
Ali, who lives with his elderly parents in the Atma IDP camps located near the Turkish border, in Syria, is trying to communicate warning messages about the situation in the camps and their ability to withstand the spread of the virus among hundreds of thousands of displaced people. The problems that exist in this situation include the general lack of experience in identifying the disease, distinguishing it from the common flu and the weak ability to provide the necessary treatment, the lack and scarcity of health resources, dispensaries and medical personnel, and medicinal drugs. Ali concludes his messages to the public questioning whether his twin brother, Bilal, who is currently detained with tens of thousands in prisons of the Regime, will be safe from the Corona virus. The prisons already unsafe, have over a hundred health and safety violations in a crowded environment and he hopes that his and the Syrian appeals receive attention and response for the concerns of the IDP camps and detainment prisons.
North East
In the Northeastern part of Syria, where the Opposition factions control areas between Tel Abyad and Ras Al-Ain, and the rest under the Self-Management, the situation is even more worse due to the large numbers of displaced people, the destruction of most hospitals and health centers, the absence of medical personnel, medication, and preventive advice.
Shahnaz recounts her fears and said, “I am currently spending most of my time on the roof of the Tell Tamr Preparatory School, after we were displaced from Ras al-Ain city for fear for my children of what they call Corona disease to protect them from mixing and transmitting the fatal infection. I follow the news and updates on Facebook.
We are currently more than forty families living inside the school and we are distributed among the class rooms. Each family or two is in one room and health facilities and resources are basic and old. The building and health facilities are difficult to clean because of the overcrowding. I have decided, with my family to survive living on the roof on the school away from people in fear of receiving or spreading the disease. There are no hospitals or health centers nearby, and the city of Al-Hassakeh is far away and we cannot live there because of the high prices. Therefore, I am trying to protect my children on my own after my husband’s death during displacement because of the war. I also wish I could travel far away from the war and seek asylum in Europe for the future of my children.”
People have no choice but to turn to the Self-Management and all the powers in the controlling areas. The actors in the North-East should intensify efforts and cooperation among each other to confront the threat of the spread of the Corona virus and assume their social responsibility towards female citizens and all citizens under their areas of jurisdiction.
Syrian Government Control
In Syrian Government controlled areas, the Government continues to deny the existence of the virus and is continuing to mobilize their war efforts with its allies. Syria’s land and sea borders are still open to outsiders and entrants, so the SCP asks them to consider closing the borders, or making restrictions and reaching a long truce to confront the Corona virus and take all measures to protect the Syrian people. This includes the option of closing borders, especially to and from Iran, which is a hotbed for the global spread of the virus.
Call for action
It is the duty of all local parties to assume the full responsibilities towards their citizens and work together to establish a cease-fire and fighting between all parties in a serious and constructive manner. There needs to be increased cooperation among them and reduce the barriers that prevent healthy exchanges between the different areas of control. The SCP also appeals to the international parties involved in the conflict to work to support efforts to achieve and to stop the supply and use of of arms and war equipment and focus on countering the threat of the Corona virus.
The suffering of the Syrians extends beyond its borders, particularly in the refugee camps in the neighboring countries, where Syrians already live in harsh conditions and have done so for years. They suffer from various pressures including some country governments deporting them or pushing for forced repatriation. This is unfair and dangerous, given that movement is the most common cause of spreading the Corona virus, and by doing so, it will affect the most vulnerable populations.
Refugees from their camps observe with great concern, the development of the spread of the Corona virus and the speed of its transmission from one country to another. They are aware of the inability of most developed countries with their advanced health systems to control the virus or limit its speed of transmission, so they worry how the virus will affect them in their fragile and vulnerable settings in refugee camps.
Ibrahim, a young man who lives with his wife and six children inside the Biqaa camp, lives in a tent among hundreds of tents that are crowded with displaced people, with almost a complete absence of medical centers, health facilities, disinfection, sterilization, and educational flyers. Mariam, the wife of Ibrahim, who works as a midwife, adds that she lives with most of the displaced and there is a state of intense terror and panic from the risk of transmission of the Corona virus. There have been records of many infections related to Corona in Lebanese cities and towns, which further exacerbate the terror of Syrian refugees. Mariam has also criticized the Government’s measures to prevent the movement of the displaced and put them under house arrest and intensifying guarding Military patrols in the vicinity of the camps without making any plan or taking proactive measures to prevent the disaster and the spread of the deadly epidemic.
The SCP appeals to the World Health Organization to supervise the camps for the displaced and refugees, and we call on the Governments of the neighboring countries of Syria to monitor the health status of the refugees, provide the required support, and equip and support the camps with fixed and mobile dispensaries specializing in the early detection of the Corona virus.
In light of the world’s preoccupation with facing the threat of the Corona virus, fragile societies and states are vulnerable to being forgotten by international bodies, institutions, and international Governments. In light of the continuing economic sanctions and blockade, we unfortunately expect an increase of cases, and thus a catastrophe in the making. The Syrian Civil Platform urgently appeals to the international community and the World Health Organization to respond quickly to the calls of the displaced and refugees about their fears of the danger of the spread of the Corona virus, take the necessary preventive measures to monitor the health conditions and provide adequate medical support to dispensaries and medical points. This should include the formation of local teams working to spread awareness about ways to prevent and avoid sickness and spreading of the virus, and pressures the governments of neighboring countries of Syria to exert enough efforts and attention to reassure the general displaced in the refugee camps that spread across inside and outside Syria.
Lastly, the SCP turns to the international community and its bodies to reconsider the sanctions imposed on Syria that impact the health sector and for other sectors such as the fuel sector, that hospitals need to work and function. These exceptions must be made under strict UN supervision in order not to exploit them.