Looming crisis | Closure of the crossings in north-western Syria results in shortage of medical equipment and medicines  

Areas of north-western Syria have become completely isolated from the regime-controlled areas, both HTS-held areas in Idlib and in the areas controlled by Turkish-backed factions in north and north-east of Aleppo province.

The “Interim Government” has closed all crossings, while Turkish-backed factions are smuggling trucks into regime-controlled areas. Meanwhile, essential materials are gradually decreasing from the region’s markets, with the spread of coronavirus.

Reliable sources have informed SOHR that several types of medicines, manufactured in Syria, have been completely lost from pharmacies and warehouses, including medicines for blood pressure patients, aspirin, children’s nutritional supplements and some anti-inflammatory medicines.

The closure of crossings with the regime has led to loss of these medicines, and foreign medicines are used as an alternative, if available.

Moreover, the areas of north-western Syria are experiencing a severe shortage of medical supplies.

On the other hand, precautionary measures to tackle coronavirus are still insufficient, as hundreds of thousands of displaced persons are living in overcrowded camps, sharing the same bathrooms, drinking water from communal sources and using communal facilities and services, with little public health awareness which contributed to lack of self-prevention against the spread of the pandemic.