The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

SOHR exclusive | Alarming increase in coronavirus cases, as Idlib’s lifeblood closing deadline looms

Residents in north Syria are cautiously awaiting the implementation of the decision to close the border crossing Bab al-Hawa which will block the entry of many U.N humanitarian aid to Idlib city and its countryside. Possibility of closing the crossing, raises considrable concern among medical staff in light of the spreading of Covid-19.

 

Medical sources in Idlib countryside have confirmed to SOHR that Bab al-Hawa crossing is the lifeblood and the only supplies gate for medical facilities and quarantine centres in Idlib. Accordingly, the closure of the crossing will weaken these facilities’ operational capacity, and affect the medical staff’s ability to compact and contain the pandemic. This decision will also affect the whole aid supplies provided to the medical sector generally as well as aid offered by charities to displaced people living in refugee camps.

 

Confirming these concerns, a doctor in Idlib said to SOHR “the numbers of death and infections published by opposition officials are not accurate and exaggerated due to lack of medical equipment and diagnostic test kits and the poor abilities in laboratories. In addition, most of the doctors in north Syria have no enough medical experience regarding coronavirus or how to detect infection and to confirm positive and negative cases. During this June “COVID-19” widely spread, along with the upcoming date to close the crossing.”

 

SOHR activists have monitored significant carelessness in adopting  coronavirus precautionary measures in Idlib city and countryside. Meanwhile people crowds are prevalent in markets, swimming pools and parks. Moreover, about 30,000 students take their exams in centers with no any precautionary measures against “Covid-19”, including sterilization, putting on face masks, and respect of social distancing.

 

SOHR also monitored the same carelessness in restaurants, coffee shops, civil organizations, hospitals and schools, at a time when Idlib city and countryside have experienced lack of strict measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 such as imposing curfew, sterilizing streets, or at least comply with wearing masks.

 

With  great Indulgence by authorities, people justify their carelessness to the hard living situations which do not give them the luxury of staying at home or at tents, and that they are forced to work to earn their living.

 

A displaced man known by his initials as M.K. from Khan Shaykhoun in the southern countryside of Idlib and now living in a camp in Deir Hassan area in the northern countryside of Idlib said to SOHR “people in Idlib city and countryside have not complied with “Covid-19” precautionary measures, while the medical situation has been still very poor due to the enormous population and the deteriorating living conditions which forced civilians to work disregarding the pandemic.”

 

M.K added “authorities in Idlib did not secure suitable conditions for residents here to contain the spread of “Covid-19”, and did not adopt any procedures that would decrease the crowds or help people to stay safe at homes.”

 

A doctor working at a hospital supported by a US organization told SOHR “the issued numbers are not exaggerated at all, and they may be less than real numbers, as there are many infections that have not been diagnosed as Covid-19 cases either because of carelessness or doubting laboratory tests. There are about 23 quarantine centres and specialized hospitals in all areas of Idlib city and countryside and the western countryside of Aleppo, including al-Amal hospital in Darat Azza town in the western countryside of Aleppo, Salqeen hospital in the northern countryside of Idlib, Sima hospital in Kafr Takhareem town in the northern countryside of Idlib, the quarantine hospital in Jisr al-Shighour city, and al-Zeraa hospital in Idlib.

 

In a static published on Friday, June 18, the Health Directorate of the Salvation Government stated that 71 new ”Covid-19” cases were detected, including 31 cases in Idlib, raising the total number of infected cases to 25,058 cases, while 90 new recovery cases was recorded, including 20 cases in Idlib, bringing the total number of recovery cases to 21,819 cases. Also, 7 new cases died, raising death toll to 699 cases.

 

It is worth noting that the UN authorization to deliver humanitarian aid through Bab al-Hawa crossing is scheduled to be expired by July 10, 2021. Russia with its veto is trying to obstruct the reauthorization , while the US is working on allowing the entry of humanitarian aid to north Syria.