Dr Lina Khatib
Hello and welcome, everyone. Thank you for joining us for this webinar that Chatham House is hosting, in collaboration with the Syria campaign, looking at the situation in Idlib, in Syria. I am Lina Khatib. I’m the Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House and I also lead our work on Syria.
Of course, today’s event focuses on Idlib, in Northeast Syria, where we’ve had, on the ground, a very tentative ceasefire since March, but the situation is quite critical, especially now, with the spread of the coronavirus, bringing with it another wave of sensitivity to the situation on the ground. And to this end, we wanted to have a discussion with the people who are first responders and humanitarian actors, who are working diligently to help the population of Idlib and Northeast Syria, more widely, with us here today, and I’m very delighted that they are able to join us from respective locations. We’re going to start today with Dr Munzer al-Khalil, who is the Head of the Idlib Health Directorate. We’re also going to hear from Mr Raed Al Saleh, who’s the Director of the Syria Civil Defence, also known as The White Helmets, and we’re also going to hear from Miss Alaa Mughrabieh, who is a Child Protection Officer for the Hurras Network, working also with children in Syria and the Northeast – Northwest, in general.
Before we start the discussion, we are going to play a very short film by Ahlam Rashid, who is a humanitarian and community leader in the Atmeh camp in Northern Idlib.
Ahlam Al-Rashid
Hello. I am Ahlam Rashid, one of the displaced women living in Atmeh camps since 2012. As humanitarians or camp residents, we fear that the coronavirus will spread to the camps. This catastrophe could kill thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people. There are a large number of elderly people and children, and our fears are increasing more and more. As for the living situation, we know that people in the camps suffer from poverty because there are few job opportunities.
The tents are just made of cloth, so they don’t protect against the virus. We cannot control our children by keeping them inside the tents, as if they were in a house. There is a real lack of water. More than a million displaced people are living in one camp and suffer from a shortage of water. Especially as we are heading towards Ramadan and the summer, where we will need more water.
I interviewed a woman in a camp, and she told me she has no way to prevent coronavirus. We do not have masks, gloves, or sterilisers what is available to humanitarian workers. We can only get information that we obtain from social media. We disseminate this through awareness sessions in displacement camps and towns. All humanitarian workers feel afraid of this disease and they worry about the fate of their families and their country more than before. They are doing their best to keep people safe in the camps.
Humanitarian workers need materials to maintain hygiene, like soap, sterilisers, gloves and liquid soap, and to receive regular updates about the disease, so that we can provide this information to people. We all need stability, so that people can return to their homes. We also cannot forget the issues of Syria’s detainees, when talking about this disease. Let us think a little about the conditions of the detainees inside the prisons, all prisons, how will they spend their days? We fear that this virus will spread in light of all the torture and suffering.
Thank you for this opportunity to speak. I’m praying to God to save humanity from this epidemic. Thank you.
Dr Lina Khatib
So, as we heard there, a bit of an overview of the situation on the ground. I think this is a good introduction to the first speaker, Dr Munzer al-Khalil. What’s the situation on the ground in Idlib? I know it is very difficult for responders and the capacity of the health sector is probably not adequate, to put it mildly. So, would you mind walking us through the context that we’re really facing?
Dr Munzer al-Khalil
Thank you very much to give me this opportunity. Actually, nowadays, Northwest Syria faces the biggest humanitarian catastrophe around the world. The number of IDPs increased sharply last year, with about 1.2 million, 21% from those new IDPs live in camps, while 79% live in other places, like schools, developmental building and open areas under olive tree. The total population is more than three million in Idlib. 65% of them are IDPs. Last time, when we started our awareness campaign, many messages of response came to us, especially from the camps’ people, where, “You are right, we must stay in our tents, but the problem is that we don’t have enough food for two or three weeks. I work daily and I must bring the basic meals to my family, so, if I go out, there is a probability that I might be affected, but if I stay in my tent, I will absolutely die, due to the lack of food and clean water.”
On the other hand, the health sector in this area is very weak, due to hundreds of attack by regime and its allies last nine years. We lost more than 70 health facilities since April 2019, until now. We lost a lot of equipment and medical staff. For instance, we have now, in Idlib governorate just 47 adults’ ventilators and those ventilators are almost 100% occupied most of the time. So, I can say now we don’t have one empty ventilator that is ready to receive corona patients. We have one patient bed for each 1,600 person and roughly, 600 Doctors in all Northwest Syria to provide services for 4.2 million, and that means 1.4 Doctors for each 10,000 people.
At the last point I will speak about the real response on the ground. We, as Idlib Health Directorate, part of the taskforce, which has been started under health cluster umbrella since the 3rd of March, we had written the PRV last time, but the problem was this planning was poor, in comparison with the PRV in Damascus, as well as there is no clear decline. So, really, we don’t know if this planning will be applied before tsunami corona or after that. We even don’t know if it will be applied at all. ‘Til now there is no one hospital ready to receive corona patients. There is no enough PPE for medical staff or enough masks, at least, and that will cause more loss for medical staff and long-term harm. There is no referral system really, there are no community-based escalations really, ‘til now, and that means there are no places for the suspected patients to go, or even for confirmed cases, and they will stay with their families and communities in camps. However, we have now promises from our partners in NGOs that 28 community-based escalation will be ready by 20 May.
And what happened so far is the arrival of kits for the only one laboratory in North Syria and total number was 5,900 test. Also, very weak awareness campaign and some training for infection control, related to regular programme, not as response for corona. And any other efforts, I’m sorry to say, that the real response is performed by institutions, NGOs and communities and it is not related to taskforce response, at least ‘til now. For instance, last time we establish it as Idlib Health Directorate with White Helmets and other NGOs, Volunteers Against Corona Campaign, and during the first week, 72 NGOs and local volunteer groups join to our campaign and we aim to reach for 8,500 volunteers next time, who support the community distance activities and other activities, related to the general response strategy.
In conclusion, now we are under real pressure to change our regular programmes to respond to corona and what that means. We were asked to care in the central his – internal hospital in Idlib City to corona hospital and that will, of course, saving some corona patients’ lives and the deaths of others, with a higher number because of other health problems, and the limited number of ventilators and patient bed we have. Now we prepare study use WHO COVID Essential Service Forecasting Tool, COVID ESFT, to estimate the required health system capacity in Northwest Syria during the first six weeks of an expected outbreak.
The Research Team forecast is based on three scenario and use COVID ESFT tool. Scenario one: expected that we will face a medium doubling rate every four days and a medium attack rate of 20%. The population figure used was about 4,200,000. Scenario two, which is more closely considered the contest in Northwest Syria, expected that we will face a fast doubling rate every 3.2 days and a medium attack rate with 20%. Scenario three: in the first and second scenario, actually, we forecast on the total number of people, but in third scenario, Researchers forecast on the most vulnerable people, which is the 1.2 million people living in camps. In this scenario, Researchers expected a very fast doubling rate every 2.3 days and a medium attack rate of 20%.
We forecast that estimated number of cumulative cases, the co-operation of severe cases and critical cases during the first six weeks of an outbreak, from the time the first case is diagnosed in Northwest Syria. We compare the results to the number of inpatient bed and ventilators, which are available. Scenario one predicts that by week six of the outbreak, there would be roughly 55,000 cases. Scenario two predicts that by week six there would be, roughly, 836,000 cases. Scenario three look at the most vulnerable subpopulation, which is the 1.2 million people living in camps. Scenario three predicts that by week three, not xix, there would be approximately about 240,000 cases just in camps. In conclusion, regardless of which scenario will be, the health sectors’ ability to cover will be between one and four weeks before losing control. Thank you.
Dr Lina Khatib
Thank you so much Dr al-Khalil. You paint a very grim situation on the ground, which should be cause for alarm for anyone who hasn’t yet thought of the situation as cause for alarm. The numbers you are mentioning in all the scenarios, as you’re saying, are not good, compared to how fragile the health sector capacity is and also, all the other issues going on.
I’m going to now turn to our second speaker, but just before, I need to remind everyone who is with us today, watching or listening, that if you are joining us on Zoom, through your computers, you can see a Q&A function at the bottom of the screen and you can use that to send your questions in writing and I will collate the questions and ask them to our esteemed panellists, after they finish their interventions. You may start sending the questions now, if you wish, but, of course, we’ll answer them after the interventions finish.
Next, I’m going to turn to Mr Raed Al Saleh, the Director of The White Helmets. The White Helmets, I was just looking earlier today, have been disinfecting tents and have been working very diligently on the ground, also in co-operation with the Idlib Health Directorate. So, what is the response to COVID-19 by the White Helmets? And for this, I just want to say that Mr Raed Al Saleh’s comments will be in Arabic, helpfully translated by Mr Farooq, who is sitting next to him. So, over to you.
Raed Al Saleh
[Mother tongue].
Mr Farooq
Thank you very much for making this opportunity available to speak about the response to the COVID-19 in Northwest Syria.
Raed Al Saleh
[Mother tongue].
Mr Farooq
Definitely all people who are – live now in Northwest Syria have serious concerns. They are afraid that if the COVID-19 spread in the Northwest, that will represent a big threat and a catastrophe.
Raed Al Saleh
[Mother tongue].
Mr Farooq
In fact, the systematic and deliberate attacks by the Russian and Syrian forces against the health sector in Northwest Syria have actually weakened the capacity of the hospitals, the medical centres and The White Helmet centres, to be able to respond to such threats.
Raed Al Saleh
[Mother tongue].
Mr Farooq
A second challenge I would like to speak about before going to the – to talk about the response, which we are delivering now, is actually the challenge of the bureaucracy of the big UN agencies and the WHO, in regards to the emergency response needs, currently, in Syria.
Raed Al Saleh
[Mother tongue].
Mr Farooq
Our colleague, Dr Munzer, just mentioned the taskforce, which was actually initiated in early March and now we approaching the end of April and ‘til now, there is nothing practically delivered by this taskforce, while our people on the ground are so worried and just waiting.
Raed Al Saleh
[Mother tongue].
Mr Farooq
We remember the wrong advice, the statement, which was posted by the WHO on the 14th of the month, when they said that the virus does not get spread to people and that actually increased the risks and the probability of the threat.
Raed Al Saleh
[Mother tongue].
Mr Farooq
So, the UN agencies need to reconsider and review their mechanisms and their processes in the – delivering their response. We follow the statistics and the numbers of the other areas in conflict zones and the areas, which face crisis and those figures are very alarming. So, a serious reconsideration is needed to the whole processes and mechanisms used by the UN.
Raed Al Saleh
[Mother tongue].
Mr Farooq
Concerning our response, as White Helmets, actually, since the beginning of the crisis, when we started receiving the reports about the threat of the coronavirus elsewhere, we established a White Helmets operations, crisis operations room, to prepare our response and we developed plans, with multiple scenarios, to focus on the activities of the awareness, first, and the disinfection of the infected areas.
Raed Al Saleh
[Mother tongue].
Mr Farooq
We formed special teams to deliver awareness campaign on the COVID-19 and, also, we formed special teams to deliver sterilisation materials and disinfection of the hospitals and the schools and the main areas, which can be affected.
Raed Al Saleh
[Mother tongue].
Mr Farooq
75 teams were formed for this purpose and they delivered more than 7,000 disinfection tasks in multiple areas, including the camps and the areas where people usually gather.
Raed Al Saleh
[Mother tongue].
Mr Farooq
That included more than 1,000 camp, 1,900 mosques, 1,300 schools, 507 health centre and 1,800 other public utility centres.
Raed Al Saleh
[Mother tongue].
Mr Farooq
In addition, we were engaged in all the local co-ordination efforts with the Idlib Health Directorate and the other health actors on the ground. We initiated the call for volunteers against corona to gather many volunteers in different areas to help in this response and we’ve been, also, in close co-ordination with the other health actors to prepare for a joint response.
Raed Al Saleh
[Mother tongue].
Mr Farooq
We also offered an online training platform to provide training for Trainers and awareness staff on the COVID-19. So far, we have trained more than 300 volunteers on this awareness sessions.
Raed Al Saleh
[Mother tongue].
Mr Farooq
In addition, and in co-ordination with the Health Directorate, we have located 20% of our total capacity of ambulances to dedicate 25 ambulances, with their teams, to deal specifically with the suspected COVID-19 cases, to provide ambulance service and transportation for such cases.
Raed Al Saleh
[Mother tongue].
Mr Farooq
In addition, we shifted the focus of our [inaudible – 26:21], which usually produce the uniforms for The White Helmets, now we shifted its focus to work on providing protective gears, protective gowns and suits against the virus and very soon, we will launch a production line of masks inside Syria, to be able to produce masks and deliver – distribute them to The White Helmets’ responders and also, to other health facilities.
Raed Al Saleh
[Mother tongue].
Mr Farooq
In parallel, we have dedicated units working on innovative ideas and products, using 3D printers inside Syria, to produce the needed materials, which are not available or very expensive to import them. We are now in testing phases and when the products are ready and tested, we will announce them.
Raed Al Saleh
Thank you very much.
Mr Farooq
And thank you.
Dr Lina Khatib
Thank you very much, both of you, and last but not least, we’re going to turn to Miss Mughrabieh. You work, obviously, on child protection and children are likely to not be able to go to school, other than other vulnerabilities that they’re exposed to. So, would you mind telling us a bit about the situation in the Northwest?
Aala Raja Mughrabieh
So, thank you, Lina. I am a Child Protection Officer. I work with Hurras Network, the leading NGO in Syria in the field of the child protection. Since its establishment, Hurras committed itself to working inside Syria during the worst stages of conflict. We help the most vulnerable children, including those with disabilities, to access child – education in formal schools and have quality learning opportunities. Hurras has integrated a child safeguarding system into 1,400 schools, which has reduced harm, over 300,000 children, and we have established a network of 3-1 – 31 local Child Protection Committees, in different regions across Syria. Hurras also protects children against child recruitment, abusive labour and exploitation and child mileage, and we work to empowering communities to provide equal opportunities for boys and girls.
As my colleagues has implied, the humanitarian situation is deteriorating, and the COVID-19 pandemic raises even more concerns. It’s not looking good for the children in Northwest Syria. I wanted to start with the story of Sarah. Sarah is a 13-years-old girl, who taught Hurras the story of her education. Sarah used to go to school when she used to live in Eastern Ghouta, but her school was destroyed by bombs. Then, she was displaced to another town and she went to a school, which was in a basement. But that was not safe, and the school was damaged after another attack. She was displaced again and after one year, Sarah was able to go back to school in Idlib and she told us that she was very happy that she thought that she’s going to envy herself, so she did not tell anyone, yeah, around her, except for Hurras. Unfortunately, after a month after Sara joined the school, the COVID-19 emergency was announced in Northwest Syria and her school was disbanded and now Sarah has to stay at home.
Sarah’s story is far from unique. After the suspension of schools and education activities, due to the conflict and now COVID-19, ½ million of children are out of school in Northwest Syria and their chances of going back to school and to their education are getting lower and lower with time. School closures and other consequences of the disease outbreak have a huge negative impact on the learning, safety and wellbeing of most vulnerable children in the poorest families. Families can be separated during the outbreak. Children are living in stress and they are at greater risk of physical violence and neglect and the financial burden of quarantine measures, makes children more likely be recruited into child labour. Many children suffer from huge psychosocial distress and from the change – the chances they are put through during the emergency. If a child is injured or a family member dies, they have – they are more even likely to be learning less, eating less. This is because of the psychosocial distress from being ill themselves or from the distress of the circumstances they have been, and they are more likely to be subjected to other safeguarding issues.
In additions to children making slower progress in their education due to the disruption, the longer that the schools are closed or used as an isolation wards, the harder it’s to re-establish the system that’s maintained engagement between parents/Teacher, at all. All children are at higher risk of dropping out altogether. So, Syrian organisation, Hurras and other partners, are working hard to make sure reaching as many children as possible, to maintain their education and child protection, in response to the potential outbreak of COVID-19 in Northwest Syria.
We, and alongside other organisation, have launched a digital learning platforms for Idlib’s children that is reaching 187,000 children, including Sarah. It’s also allows Teachers and other school staff to continue their professional development and provide support for children. The digital learning platform includes daily routine for children and their families, and it includes psychosocial support, family consultations, and child protection advice, in addition to literacy and numeracy support. We have found that to have an impact, these education interventions much – must include aspects of psychosocial support and they must be linked to a routine, or key points in the day. Also, quarantine self-learning kits have been provided for families who cannot access the digital platform, including family living in Idlib camps.
In addition to what have been done, health and other civil society responses to COVID-19 must all integrate child protection measures, to address these new risks of children of family separation, domestic violence and child labour, and many others. It’s not about the safety, it’s proper housing. We must find enough shelter to house displaced communities, including people in tents. We are trying to protect education facilities from being used as isolation wards, so that it’s easy for children to return to school as soon as possible. If a school must be used for health responses, we want that to have a clear and checked exit strategy for those facilities. There is a risk that if sick people are housed in schools, they won’t agree to leave, as they don’t have other shelter to go to.
Internet connection is really important at this time, to support the surge and the need for parents and their children to stay connected and establish a routine, staying informed and connected to have pathway back to schools. We also need to prioritise the stigmatisation programmes, so that those who con – who have been infected with COVID-19, don’t became isolated or stigmatised because of the infection. Above all, I believe there is need to be – to have real investments in smaller organisations that are already operating successfully, and which have well relationship to – of trust with their communities and authorities. Syrian civil societies can produce results during and after an outbreak crisis.
Children in Northwest Syria have already gone through so much. Prior to coronavirus, a million people, and over half of them are children, were displaced from their homes by months of intense shelling. Schools had only just opened after the cease of fire, when the coronavirus has emerged, and schools had to shutdown again. Hurras is working as hard as we can to protect these children and to protect their learning. Thank you.
Dr Lina Khatib
Thank you, all of you, very much. Now, we have around 22 minutes for questions. I actually wanted to start with you, Alaa, if you don’t mind. If you were to prioritise what international donors, in particular, should be supporting right now when it comes to the children of Idlib, what would you say they should turn their attention to, and resources?
Aala Raja Mughrabieh
Well, as I mentioned, Lina, their education should not stop. Their education is not for their education, it’s also to build their routines and more – to protect them more, to stay connected with that sup – child protection actors and Teachers, to be more safe. And to address those concerns that I talked to, we have to, also, prioritise the integration of child protection with the other responses of health and civil societies organisation who are responsing – responding to the response.
Dr Lina Khatib
Thank you so much, and you raise a very important point here, which is, obviously, that very often, international donors seem to split the way they conduct their programmes and activities by sector. So, health is perhaps regarded as being separate from education, education being separate from wider civil society programming, and what you’re saying is that there should be cross-sector programming that is more holistic, that the international donors should take a different approach. I think this is a very, very important point.
I’m going to ask the same question to Dr Munzer al-Khalil. We have questions coming through the Q&Q, keep them coming, but let’s start with recommendations. You talked about the situation on the ground and how difficult it is and some of the questions have been about external support, we can go into more details, but let’s just start with what you think should be done.
Dr Munzer al-Khalil
I think the first issue, because we think that the protection of medical staff now in Syria, maybe it is the most important thing, because if we lose now our medical staff, our Doctors, we will lose on long-term, even after corona crisis. So, the first thing, if we can offer the protection tools for medical staff, like PPE and others, training medical staff, increase the number of patient bed and oxygen generator to support the 14 person from the patient in general who they may need oxygen and other support, and increase the number in – on ventilators, actually.
Another issue, as you mentioned, support other sectors, like education, like wash, like shelter, because now, actually, because the very bad situation in camps, we actually can’t offer a lot as health sectors. Now the commensurate of camps, some – saying some places more than 400 person. So, no way to ask people now to, like, to do community distance, no way to ask them to wash their hands for 20 seconds. So, as you mentioned, it is very important to think now how we can, as many sectors, response together to corona pandemic, yeah.
Dr Lina Khatib
Okay, thank you very much. There are a number of questions about the WHO, so, I’m going to try to cover this, ‘cause I think it’s very important. I mean, of course, the WHO itself is facing, not just criticism from the United States, but funding cuts. One of the concerns, and perhaps this is something that Raed Al-Saleh can also comment on, considering you mentioned the WHO in your comments, but, of course, you know, the question is open, might funding cuts on the WHO have a negative impact on Idlib? But, at the same time, I am having comments in the Q&A sent to me with critiques of the WHO, saying that it seems that the WHO is functioning a bit better in regime controlled areas than it is in Idlib, why is that, in your opinion? And there was a related question to this, which is the promises that the WHO gave regarding support for the Northwest in Syria, versus the challenges of delivery or perhaps just inadequate delivery altogether, especially when it comes to procurement.
So, it seems that people are quite surprised that the WHO is not as effective as perhaps it might be. So, I’d like you to weigh in on how you assess the performance of the WHO, why is it not delivering in the North West, as in other places in Syria? I don’t know who would like to start.
Dr Munzer al-Khalil
Raed, please, you can start, and I will speak after you.
Raed Al Saleh
[Mother tongue].
Mr Farooq
Cutting funding of the WHO might have first impact on, actually, on their travel budget and meetings budget, because they spent much more on travel and meetings, rather than what they allocate to the final products or outposts delivered to the beneficiaries and the vulnerable people on the ground. This is really a key challenge how the WHO is spending the donations and the funds which it receives.
Secondly, we are very concerned that, actually, the way it delivers the assistance, it’s not impartial and not balanced. We see that they prioritise equipment and assistance to the regime-controlled areas. We definitely are not against, in any way, delivering humanitarian assistance to our people and our brothers and sisters in the regime-controlled areas, but we believe that the assistance should be delivered on a needs basis, which should be needs-oriented and it should be balanced across all the areas who need the assistance in Syria.
Raed Al Saleh
[Mother tongue].
Mr Farooq
We have concerns that we suspect that a few of the Regional Managers or senior people in the WHO, working on our region, have political interests or affiliations supporting the regimes agenda and the Russian agenda and that won’t be surpassing, as we heard also doubts about the Director of the WHO, who was accused of repeating the Chinese statements and propaganda on this.
Dr Munzer, up to you.
Dr Munzer al-Khalil
Yeah, thank you, Raed, regards. Actually, I can say ‘til now that WHO didn’t offer $1 to Northwest Syria. And by the way, that the Army in Damascus, it’s more than $100 million and ‘til now, WHO and some other partners offer most of the money to Damascus, so there is no real problem, according to financing issue in Damascus and, of course, according to equipment. While in Northwest Syria, ‘til now, I can literally say there is no one patient bed ready to receive corona patient. They don’t offer one ambulance car to receive corona patient.
So, there is something we can’t understand, more than two month now, when we fail, or WHO fail in offer just one patient bed, so there is, I think, there is, like, real problem. And, actually, when we discuss with them, many time, “Okay, we understand that there is a problem, there are – there is a problem in ventilators, for example, because most of the countries now around the world have this logistic problem, but what about other needs, what about oxygen generator, what about patient bed?” It is very simple, patient bed inside Syria, we can’t offer them. It is very simple issue. So, when they fail totally in, like, offer anything, so we have to ask it our self what the problem actually? And I think there is negative roles here, because when WHO say many times that we have money to this planning, to this PRP, a lot of donors actually think that we don’t need to invest in this place, because WHO take the lead here. But the problems that after they said for months that we have resources to response, now they said that we don’t have any kind of response and you have to turn your regular programmes – programme to response to corona. So, to be honest, WHO, of course, they have actually a real problem now in Northwest Syria.
For us it’s like Google, we can get some awareness brochures from Google, at the same time, we can get some awareness brochures from WHO, not more than Google, for us, ‘til now. And the problem, the real problem now, that in other country around the world there is government take care about the people in this area, but in our situation, our government, Syrian Government, attack our health facility and killed our medical staff with Russia and with their allies. So, in our context, in Sy – in Northwest Syria, WHO have to take the lead for response to corona disease, not like work like Google, just sent it, well, so, email some awareness brochures. So, thank you for WHO.
Dr Lina Khatib
Okay, in that case, I have two follow-up questions. One, might there be a solution through Turkey, for example conducting tests in Turkey instead of in Northwest Syria, if there was lack of capacity, as you’re saying? The second question, which may be a bit more controversial, but one of the questions we received, is there – can there ever be co-ordination between your Health Directorate in Idlib and the Ministry of Health in Damascus, on just the health sector, obviously, and humanitarian issues?
Dr Munzer al-Khalil
That question for me?
Dr Lina Khatib
The second question definitely for you, ‘cause it’s about the Health Directorate in Idlib, might there ever be any co-ordination between yourselves and the Ministry of Health under the regime, obviously, in Damascus, considering that, as you are saying, the WHO seems to be diverting its resources through Damascus, which is, basically, how the WHO operates when it comes to its interactions with the regime? The regime, obviously, wants things to pass through its own ministries, but might there ever be any potential to co-ordinate on the basis that this is just about humanitarian and health issues?
Dr Munzer al-Khalil
Actually, first of all, we don’t trust in Ministry of Health in Damascus or in the government, in general, because you know that the same government, the same – the other Ministry attack our hospital and killed our medical staff and even it’s not the first problem we faced with the government in Syria. I remember in 2015, when they cut the vaccine for children, so that polio appeared again in Northwest Syria and in Syria in general, because even use the vaccine of children as, like, as guns, as tools to punish the people in this area. And, actually, because we have a good relationship with our colleagues, our Doc – the Doctor in Damascus and in different area, we know that in Syria there are a lot of corona cases before the government publish the first cases.
According to our colleagues, they work now in hospitals and we remember, like, when the Ministry of Health in Damascus say that, we don’t have problem with corona because the Syrian Army kept the bacteria in this area.” So, actually, according to what they say, actually. So, really, we don’t have, like – there is no trust, there is no way, because you know that there is no crossline, now, point between Northwest Syria and between Damascus. And at the end, WHO have to be very clear with us, if they want us to deal with Damascus, with the Ministry of Health, so they cut everything from here and support Damascus, they have to be clear with us that, “This is our plan.” But ‘til now, they face problem with transparency. They don’t told us, frankly, that, “This is our plan.” So, at least they must say that, “This is our planning and after that, we will discuss our solutions and our choices.”
Dr Lina Khatib
Yeah, and my own research on the issue, when it comes to the Northeast, showed that tests done in the Northeast have to be processed in Damascus, but they’re not getting the results back. So, even when there is an attempt at some sort of co-ordination, it’s not necessarily leading to good results, either.
Mr Raed, if you don’t mind me asking you the question about Turkey, might a, kind of, workaround be to have tests done in Turkey, or perhaps increase help from the Turkish side, as a way to get round the inadequate support from the WHO?
Raed Al Saleh
[Mother tongue].
Mr Farooq
The Turkish side is already enforced in the existing co-ordination mechanisms recording the COVID-19 response and we understood from them that they will cover the response activities in the areas of Afrin, Jarabulus and A’zaz in Northern Syria.
Raed Al Saleh
[Mother tongue].
Mr Farooq
The biggest challenge is in Idlib area itself, because the Turkish health facilities does not cover this area, as they allocate their assistance to specific areas, Afrin and Jarabulus, as we said, but Idlib is supposed to receive the support from the WHO, through the taskforce which was formed, as we said, in early March. And so, we are in this difficult situation that patients in Idlib, for example, they cannot receive treatment in Turkey, or they cannot be sent to testing centres were established by the Turkish side. They are supposed to be sent to the testing centre and receive the healthcare, as planned, with the WHO. But, actually, because of the chronic delay, we didn’t receive anything yet, from them, for Idlib.
Raed Al Saleh
[Mother tongue].
Mr Farooq
However, Turkey, so far, provides logistic support by facilitation of the movement of materials and equipment needed for the COVID-19 response. So, until now, we didn’t receive that any shipment of equipment, or materials for the COVID response was disallowed or prevented from crossing the borders to Idlib.
Dr Lina Khatib
Okay, thank you so much. I’m going to ask Miss Mughrabieh about Idlib in general. You painted a very grim picture, which is very critical. One of the questions received is how come Idlib is not a priority for international donors and perhaps for the media in general? You know, I mean, obviously, everyone is now very concerned with the COVID-19 crisis, but Idlib, obviously, is vulnerable. So, in your view, why do you think there isn’t enough attention to Idlib?
Aala Raja Mughrabieh
Well, as you said, Lina, this COVID-19, it’s a global, worldwide pandemic and, oh, I think from my opinion, that all the donors are paying attention to their own country responses and paying a priority to their country, as a response and holding their monies for the Northwest Syria until they see if, actually, in a positive case, ‘cause not forbidden that a case could be positive in Syria. So, they are waiting and holding in the breath until anything comes to the horizon. But until now, only the in progress funds are being any operated, but – and there is no any new funds and there is no, as you said, there is no attention to Northwest Syria and they are not paying enough attention to the vulnerabilities in Northwest Syria and the situation of the health and the humanitarian response, which need a lot of support to help the people and protect them.
Dr Lina Khatib
Thank you so much. I think the issue of no new funding is being earmarked is definitely very alarming. On that, unfortunately, not very positive note, we’re running out of time, so I need to draw this event to a close. Thank you so much to all our panellists. Thank you to all the people who joined us and to those who asked questions. If there are any Journalists who are with us who would like to interview our panellists, you can contact [email protected] and they’ll put you in touch. And join me in virtually thanking our panellists, and ‘til next time, thank you very much.
