DOCSLIB.ORG

WHO Syria: SITUATION REPORT Weeks 19-20; 10 – 24 May, 2019

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
WHO Syria: SITUATION REPORT Weeks 19-20; 10 – 24 May, 2019 WHO Syria: SITUATION REPORT Weeks 19-20; 10 – 24 May, 2019 I. General Development, Political and Security Situation The security situation in Syria continues to worsen, especially in the Northwest, with the main hot spots being Aleppo, Hama, Idlib, Latakia, and Deir Ezzor Governorates. This has resulted in continued destruction of public infrastructures including health facilities, displacements of people from their traditional livelihoods, and attendant deaths and casualties. Between 1-16 May 2019, CCCM Cluster Gaziantep tracked 201,492 individuals moved to different communities in Aleppo and Idleb governorates alone (90,410 in camps and reception centers, and 111,082 outside camps). On 17 May 2019, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, in a briefing to the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in northwest Syria; said: … I am most of all concerned about the number of attacks damaging or destroying medical facilities… ….… Since 28 April, WHO and health actors have identified at least 18 facilities that have been damaged or destroyed by air strikes, shelling or other fighting. All of them are inside the so-called de-escalation zone… … The trend has continued, day after day… There was a reported alleged chlorine attack in Northwest Syria on the morning of May 19, 2019 II. Key Health Issues 1. Between 01 January, through 20th May 2019, 31 confirmed attacks on health care facilities were reported to the SSA. These resulted in 27 deaths and 53 injuries of health care personnel, patients and co-patients. 2. As of 22nd of May 2019, the 16th group of 371 returnees from from Rukban arrived in Homs (105 males, 105 females, 125 children and 36 infants), bringing the total number of people who left Rukban to 13,153 people (31.5% out of 41,700 residents). They were all hosted in Abdul Rahman Shattoor shelter in Bayada. 0n the same day (22 May), 221 people ( 87 males, 69 females, 46 children and 19 infants) left the shelters (27 people left from Mahmoud Othman shelter and 194 people from the Arts Institute shelter). The total number of people who are still in the shelters is 1,023 people (652 from previous groups plus 371 from group 16). 3. Unfortunately, GoS has warned against the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Al Rukban, stressing that sending Humanitarian assistance to Al Rukban Camp will only serve the occupying power. This will further exacerbate the already bad health burden of those Syrian citizens. 4. With about 239,647 IDPs displaced from Northern Hama and Southern Idleb alone between 01 April – 16 May 2019, there is the enormous task of urgently providing humanitarian health assistance for these displaced population. 5. The Health sector is continuously updated on the impact of ongoing military campaign over 157 public health facilities and health personnel located in NSAG controlled areas and direct zones of ongoing violence, help keep the health sector plan up-to-date. 6. The Syria Health Minister, Nizar Yazigi, discussed with the WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, during a meeting held on the sidelines of the international health association session in Geneva on 23 May 2019, Yazigi clarified that the Ministry has rehabilitated dozens of damaged medical centers and vital departments in hospitals in the safe areas. He called upon the WHO to exert more efforts to lift the economic measures imposed on Syria, which are hindering the import of some medicines and medical equipment. Page | 1 III. WHO Response 1) Coordination Conducted a health sector coordination meeting in Damascus on 21 May 2019 to review: a) Updates on Situation in north-west Syria; b) Health situation in Al Hol camp; c) scale up response in the southern Syria; d) enhancement of 4W health sector 2019 HRP; e) Bi-weekly mandatory health sector updates; f) health sector contact list; g) preparations for May Health Cluster Bulletin; h) MoH’s request to support reconstruction of hospitals and PHC centers and the need for standard specifications; i) overall operational challenges; and j) key priorities on Reproductive Health issues WHO conducted her quarterly WoS WHO meeting in Beirut, 13-14 May. Issues discussed and agreed include the current context and related strategic updates/changes by the hubs from an operational and health cluster/sector perspective, WHO’s internal position on the WoS structure vis-à-vis discussions held at OCHA and RHC level; WHO’s resource mobilization and communication strategy and prospective funding in 2019 and 2020; WHO’s response in Gaziantep vis-à-vis Turkey influence and WHO’s relation/interaction with the Turkish authorities; and WHO’s response to the anticipated returnees of IDPs and refugees. An updated draft of the health sector operational plan was prepared for Dara’a and Quneitra. Enhancement of 4W health sector 2019 HRP is under process. Health sector contact list is being updated. 2) Non-Communicable diseases/Primary health care In collaboration with UNPFA & UNICEF, adolescent Friendly Health centers were activated at PHC level, with 10 Adolescent friendly health centers established in 10 governorates (Damascus, rural Damascus, Homs, Hama, Aleppo, Qunitera, Daraa, Swayda & Tartous Lattakia). WHO supported the development of health indicators for adolescents for integration into Public Health Care Information system. These indicators will also feed into the standard WHO clinical guideline. A TOT workshop was conducted to develop multi-sectoral action plan aimed at enhancing adolescent health services (including preventive, therapeutic, referral, reactive sessions and consultative services at both PHC & community levels). Continued follow up on 2 MMTs deployed by the MoE to cover oral health project in Eastern Ghoota towns in rural Damascus. 3814 students were examined, and 3890 health promotion sessions for both teachers and students, and 15,896 preventive services were conducted. Dispatched the second shipment of dental supplies in favour of oral health project in EG. 6,848 medical consultations, 139 individual and 64 group PSS sessions, including 1629 medical prescriptions, were provided for returnees including those from Rukban camp recently returned to Homs governorate. Provided the following medical equipment to Jub Al Janadlai PHC in Homs DOH: 1 spectrophotometer, 1 Basic X-ray system, 2 portable Oxygen Concentrators, 6 examination beds, 2 blood pressure devices, 1 Water Bath. PHC programme delivered 19,568 treatments during the reporting period. 3) Trauma About 150 health workers were trained on trauma and disability in four governorates (Aleppo, Tartous, Damascus and Rural Damascus) – Annex 2. The following deliveries were made during the reporting period: o Equipment capable of providing 68,000 treatments and 400 trauma cases were delivered to Aleppo SARC and Damascus MOH central. Also included were 4 trauma kit A, 8 Basic kit, and 6 supplementary kit. Page | 2 o 3 Patient monitor devices were delivered to Qamishli National Hospital. o 118 wheel chairs were delivered to 10 NGO partner in Damascus, Daraa, Aleppo, Homs and Rural Damascus. o 13,417 medical treatments were delivered to MOH centrally warehouse in Damascus Updated the Trauma Referral and Medical Evacuation Plan for NWS according to the new development on the ground (the previous potential corridor "from Qalaat al Madiq to Suqaylabiyeh" is not available any more) Mission to Bambino Gesu Hospital in Rome (with the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and the Director of Damascus University Pediatric Hospital), to develop the cooperation between three Syrian University hospitals (Damascus University Pediatric Hospital, Damascus University Cardiac Surgery Hospital and Aleppo University Hospital) and the Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital within the framework of the cooperation project between the Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital and the WHO Country Office in Syria. 4) Immunization The following meetings were held under the immunization programme: o Meeting with head of National Certification Committee (NCC) for Polio in Syria o AFP case review meeting for final case classification. o Meeting with UNICEF to 1) follow up on the final updates on the new GAVI agreement proposed to the MOH and, 2) how to enhance EPI Routine activities in Aleppo in regards to the current challenges faced by the local teams (security, access and availability of PHC services related). The following monitoring visits were also conducted: o Aleppo governorate visit from 12-16 May 2019 to stand on the EPI/Polio program achievements, plan for remaining period in 2019, and agree the need to expand EPI to reach newly accessible populations. The Polio Surveillance activities were reviewed as well. o Dar'aa governorate visit on 19 May 2019, to stand on the EPI service capacities and the need for the coming months. o Sweeda governorate visit on 22 May 2019, to stand on the EPI service capacities. All Routine Immunization activities are progressing as planned. The final results of the National Immunization week of April 2019 in Syria shows that a total 225,090 children under the age of 5 years (91% of the estimated targets) were reached and given a relative routine vaccination dose to their entitlement. All accessible areas in the 14 governorates of Syria were covered. 5) Mental Health 13 capacity building activities took place across the country on different MH programs, and 325 health workers were trained (Annex 2). MHPSS capacity building agenda (till the end of 2019) was also developed for health and community workers across the country. Active family wellbeing centers beneficiary numbers from MHPSS activities: in DEZ Syrian Pulse NGO "1282 ", in HAMA, Al-Bir Hama NGO "1873". Following the finalization of the GBV plan for 2019, work commenced on the development of IEC and awareness campaign materials on GBV. Brief developed on MH interventions in the area of adolescents and youth for the WCO focal point in the Youth Task Force. Psychotropic procurement plan for 2019 finalized, and Mental health basic and equipment needs plan for 2019 finalized after wide consultation with MoH/MH department and all mental health facilities across the country.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Palmyra (Tadmor) اريملاب
    بالميرا (Palmyra (Tadmor Homs Governorate 113 Ancient city of Palmyra/Photo: Creative Commonts, Wikipedia Satellite-based Damage Asessment to Historial Sites in Syria SOUTHWEST ACROPOLIS VALLEY OF TOMBS SMOOTHING OR EXCAVATING CITY ROMAN WALL OF SOILS IN AREA AS OF AIN EFQA BREACHED AS OF 14 NOV 2013 SPRING 14 NOV 2013 NORTHWEST NECROPOLIS EXCAVATED AS OF 1 SEPTEMBER 2012 MULTIPLE BERMS CAMP OF DIOLETIAN CONSTRUCTED ALL THROUGHOUT THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN NECROPOLIS COLONNADED NEW ROAD OF STREET APPROX.2.4 KM LONG CONSTRUCTED AS OF 14 NOV 2013 CITY WALL (SOUTHERN SECTION) TEMPLE OF NORTHERN BAAL-SHAMIN NECROPOLIS COLLAPSED COLUMN AS OF 13 NOV 2013 MONUMENTAL HOTEL ARCH ZENOBLA TEMPLE OF BEL CITY WALL (NORTHERN SECTION) RIGHT TO SECTION OF COLUMN ROW SOUTHEAST MISSING AS OF ACROPOLIS 14 NOV 2013 RIGHT HAND COLUMN OF COLUMN ROW MISSING AS OF 8 MARCH 2014 FIGURE 71. Overview of Palmyra and locations where damage has ocurred and is visible. Site Description This area covers the World Heritage Property of Palmyra (inscribed in 1980 and added to the UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger in 2013. Built on an oasis in the desert, Palmyra contains the monumental ruins of a great city that was one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world. From the first to the second century, the art and ar- chitecture of Palmyra, standing at the crossroads of several civilizations, PALMYRA married Graeco-Roman techniques with local traditions and Persian in- fluences: “The splendour of the ruins of Palmyra, rising out of the Syrian de- sert northeast of Damascus is testament to the unique aesthetic achievement of a wealthy caravan oasis intermittently under the rule of Rome[…] The [streets and buildings] form an outstanding illustration of architecture and urban layout at the peak of Rome’s expansion in and engagement with the East.
    [Show full text]
  • The Potential for an Assad Statelet in Syria
    THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ASSAD STATELET IN SYRIA Nicholas A. Heras THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ASSAD STATELET IN SYRIA Nicholas A. Heras policy focus 132 | december 2013 the washington institute for near east policy www.washingtoninstitute.org The opinions expressed in this Policy Focus are those of the author and not necessar- ily those of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, its Board of Trustees, or its Board of Advisors. MAPS Fig. 1 based on map designed by W.D. Langeraar of Michael Moran & Associates that incorporates data from National Geographic, Esri, DeLorme, NAVTEQ, UNEP- WCMC, USGS, NASA, ESA, METI, NRCAN, GEBCO, NOAA, and iPC. Figs. 2, 3, and 4: detail from The Tourist Atlas of Syria, Syria Ministry of Tourism, Directorate of Tourist Relations, Damascus. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publica- tion may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. © 2013 by The Washington Institute for Near East Policy The Washington Institute for Near East Policy 1828 L Street NW, Suite 1050 Washington, DC 20036 Cover: Digitally rendered montage incorporating an interior photo of the tomb of Hafez al-Assad and a partial view of the wheel tapestry found in the Sheikh Daher Shrine—a 500-year-old Alawite place of worship situated in an ancient grove of wild oak; both are situated in al-Qurdaha, Syria. Photographs by Andrew Tabler/TWI; design and montage by 1000colors.
    [Show full text]
  • Policy Notes for the Trump Notes Administration the Washington Institute for Near East Policy ■ 2018 ■ Pn55
    TRANSITION 2017 POLICYPOLICY NOTES FOR THE TRUMP NOTES ADMINISTRATION THE WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY ■ 2018 ■ PN55 TUNISIAN FOREIGN FIGHTERS IN IRAQ AND SYRIA AARON Y. ZELIN Tunisia should really open its embassy in Raqqa, not Damascus. That’s where its people are. —ABU KHALED, AN ISLAMIC STATE SPY1 THE PAST FEW YEARS have seen rising interest in foreign fighting as a general phenomenon and in fighters joining jihadist groups in particular. Tunisians figure disproportionately among the foreign jihadist cohort, yet their ubiquity is somewhat confounding. Why Tunisians? This study aims to bring clarity to this question by examining Tunisia’s foreign fighter networks mobilized to Syria and Iraq since 2011, when insurgencies shook those two countries amid the broader Arab Spring uprisings. ©2018 THE WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY ■ NO. 30 ■ JANUARY 2017 AARON Y. ZELIN Along with seeking to determine what motivated Evolution of Tunisian Participation these individuals, it endeavors to reconcile estimated in the Iraq Jihad numbers of Tunisians who actually traveled, who were killed in theater, and who returned home. The find- Although the involvement of Tunisians in foreign jihad ings are based on a wide range of sources in multiple campaigns predates the 2003 Iraq war, that conflict languages as well as data sets created by the author inspired a new generation of recruits whose effects since 2011. Another way of framing the discussion will lasted into the aftermath of the Tunisian revolution. center on Tunisians who participated in the jihad fol- These individuals fought in groups such as Abu Musab lowing the 2003 U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Deir Ez-Zor: Dozens Arbitrarily Arrested During SDF's “Deterrence
    Deir ez-Zor: Dozens Arbitrarily Arrested during SDF’s “Deterrence of Terrorism” Campaign www.stj-sy.org Deir ez-Zor: Dozens Arbitrarily Arrested during SDF’s “Deterrence of Terrorism” Campaign This joint report is brought by Justice For Life (JFL) and Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ) Page | 2 Deir ez-Zor: Dozens Arbitrarily Arrested during SDF’s “Deterrence of Terrorism” Campaign www.stj-sy.org 1. Executive Summary The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) embarked on numerous raids and arrested dozens of people in its control areas in Deir ez-Zor province, located east of the Euphrates River, during the “Deterrence of Terrorism” campaign it first launched on 4 June 2020 against the cells of the Islamic State (IS), aka Daesh. The reported raids and arrests were spearheaded by the security services of the Autonomous Administration and the SDF, particularly by the Anti-Terror Forces, known as the HAT.1 Some of these raids were covered by helicopters of the US-led coalition, eyewitnesses claimed. In the wake of the campaign’s first stage, the SDF announced that it arrested and detained 110 persons on the charge of belonging to IS, in a statement made on 10 June 2020,2 adding that it also swept large-scale areas in the suburbs of Deir ez-Zor and al-Hasakah provinces. It also arrested and detained other 31 persons during the campaign’s second stage, according to the corresponding statement made on 21 July 2020 that reported the outcomes of the 4- day operation in rural Deir ez-Zor.3 “At the end of the [campaign’s] second stage, the participant forces managed to achieve the planned goals,” the SDF said, pointing out that it arrested 31 terrorists and suspects, one of whom it described as a high-ranking IS commander.
    [Show full text]
  • S/2019/321 Security Council
    United Nations S/2019/321 Security Council Distr.: General 16 April 2019 Original: English Implementation of Security Council resolutions 2139 (2014), 2165 (2014), 2191 (2014), 2258 (2015), 2332 (2016), 2393 (2017), 2401 (2018) and 2449 (2018) Report of the Secretary-General I. Introduction 1. The present report is the sixtieth submitted pursuant to paragraph 17 of Security Council resolution 2139 (2014), paragraph 10 of resolution 2165 (2014), paragraph 5 of resolution 2191 (2014), paragraph 5 of resolution 2258 (2015), paragraph 5 of resolution 2332 (2016), paragraph 6 of resolution 2393 (2017),paragraph 12 of resolution 2401 (2018) and paragraph 6 of resolution 2449 (2018), in the last of which the Council requested the Secretary-General to provide a report at least every 60 days, on the implementation of the resolutions by all parties to the conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic. 2. The information contained herein is based on data available to agencies of the United Nations system and obtained from the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic and other relevant sources. Data from agencies of the United Nations system on their humanitarian deliveries have been reported for February and March 2019. II. Major developments Box 1 Key points: February and March 2019 1. Large numbers of civilians were reportedly killed and injured in Baghuz and surrounding areas in south-eastern Dayr al-Zawr Governorate as a result of air strikes and intense fighting between the Syrian Democratic Forces and Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. From 4 December 2018 through the end of March 2019, more than 63,500 people were displaced out of the area to the Hawl camp in Hasakah Governorate.
    [Show full text]
  • SYRIA, YEAR 2020: Update on Incidents According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) Compiled by ACCORD, 25 March 2021
    SYRIA, YEAR 2020: Update on incidents according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) compiled by ACCORD, 25 March 2021 Number of reported incidents with at least one fatality Number of reported fatalities National borders: GADM, 6 May 2018a; administrative divisions: GADM, 6 May 2018b; incid- ent data: ACLED, 12 March 2021; coastlines and inland waters: Smith and Wessel, 1 May 2015 SYRIA, YEAR 2020: UPDATE ON INCIDENTS ACCORDING TO THE ARMED CONFLICT LOCATION & EVENT DATA PROJECT (ACLED) COMPILED BY ACCORD, 25 MARCH 2021 Contents Conflict incidents by category Number of Number of reported fatalities 1 Number of Number of Category incidents with at incidents fatalities Number of reported incidents with at least one fatality 1 least one fatality Explosions / Remote Conflict incidents by category 2 6187 930 2751 violence Development of conflict incidents from 2017 to 2020 2 Battles 2465 1111 4206 Strategic developments 1517 2 2 Methodology 3 Violence against civilians 1389 760 997 Conflict incidents per province 4 Protests 449 2 4 Riots 55 4 15 Localization of conflict incidents 4 Total 12062 2809 7975 Disclaimer 9 This table is based on data from ACLED (datasets used: ACLED, 12 March 2021). Development of conflict incidents from 2017 to 2020 This graph is based on data from ACLED (datasets used: ACLED, 12 March 2021). 2 SYRIA, YEAR 2020: UPDATE ON INCIDENTS ACCORDING TO THE ARMED CONFLICT LOCATION & EVENT DATA PROJECT (ACLED) COMPILED BY ACCORD, 25 MARCH 2021 Methodology GADM. Incidents that could not be located are ignored. The numbers included in this overview might therefore differ from the original ACLED data.
    [Show full text]
  • Norms, Beliefs, & Practices Relevant to the Prevention of COVID-19 in The
    Prepared by Anthrologica | 2021 A PT Norms, beliefs, practices relevant to the prevention of COVID-19 in the Middle East North Africa: a literatre analyi AAY 2021 1 2 Prepared by Anthrologica | 2021 Disclaimer This technical paper is intended to disseminate analytical contributions on the risk communi- cations and community engagement COVID-19 response in Eastern Mediterranean/Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, which is co-led by World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, and International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC). The literature review was prepared by Anthrologica, and institutionally commissioned by UNICEF MENA regional office, Communication for Development section. The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policies or views of UNICEF and its partners. The text has not been edited to official publications standards and UNICEF accepts no re- sponsibility for errors. Extracts from this publication may be freely reproduced with due acknowledgement. Requests to utilize larger portions or the full publication should be addressed to UNICEF MENARO at [email protected]. Suggested citation: Butler N, Tulloch O, and Karam S., Norms, beliefs, and practices relevant to the prevention of COVID-19 in the Middle East and North Africa: a literature analysis, February 2021, UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Region Office, Amman, Jordan 3 Acknowledgements and contributions This literature review was commissioned by the UNICEF Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to identify what may influence sustained observance to COVID-19 prevention and risk reduction behaviours in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and inform its work on Risk Communication and Community Engagement in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
    [Show full text]
  • Attacks on Health Care July Monthly News Brief 2019
    Attacks on Health Care July Monthly News Brief 2019 SHCC Attacks on Health Care This monthly digest The section aligns with the definition of attacks on health care used by the comprises threats and (SHCC). Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition violence as well as Please also see WHO SSA table on the last page of this document protests and other events affecting the delivery of Africa and access to health care. Burkina Faso 26 July 2019: In Konga, Gomboro district, Sourou province, suspected Katiba Macina militants reportedly kidnapped the manager of a It is prepared by pharmacy at an unnamed medical centre. Source: ACLED1 Insecurity Insight from information available in 13 July 2019: In Noukeltouoga, Gourma province, Est region, open sources. suspected JNIM and/or ISGS militants reportedly kidnapped a vaccination volunteer. Source: ACLED1 All decisions made, on the Cameroon basis of, or with 17 July 2019: In Bamenda, Mezam district, Nord-Ouest province, two consideration to, such doctors were reportedly kidnapped by an unidentified armed group information remains the and released 24 hours later. Sources: Maikemsdairy and Journal du responsibility of their Cameroun respective organisations. Central African Republic 05 July 2019: In Ouham prefecture, two national aid workers for an Data from the Attacks on INGO were reportedly assaulted while transporting two patients on Health Care Monthly motorcycles in the Ouham prefecture. The aid workers were ambushed, News Brief is available on robbed, and assaulted by armed men suspected to be MPC/FPRC. HDX Insecurity Insight. Source: AWSD2 Democratic Republic of the Congo Subscribe here to receive 13-14 July 2019: In Mukulia village, North Kivu province, unidentified monthly reports on attackers killed two national Ebola health workers for unascertained insecurity affecting the reasons.
    [Show full text]
  • The Battle for Al Qusayr, Syria
    June 2013 The Battle for al Qusayr, Syria TRADOC G-2 Intelligence Support Activity (TRISA) Complex Operational Environment and Threat Integration Directorate (CTID) [Type the author name] United States Army 6/1/2012 Threats Integration Team Threat Report Purpose To inform the Army training community of real world example of Hybrid Threat capabilities in a dynamic operating environment To illustrate current tactics for Hybrid Threat insurgent operations To illustrate Hybrid Threat counterinsurgency operations using a current conflict To provide a short history of the conflict in the al Qusayr and the al Assi basin To describe the importance of the lines of communications from Lebanon to Syria Executive Summary The al Qusayr area of operations is a critical logistics hub for the rebel forces fighting against the Syrian government known as the Free Syrian Army (FSA). A number of external actors and international terror organizations have joined the fight in the al Assi basin on both sides of the conflict. The al Assi basin and the city of al Qusayr can be considered critical terrain and key to the future outcome of the conflict in Syria. Conventional and unconventional as well as irregular forces are all present in this area and are adapting tactics in order to achieve a decisive outcome for their cause. Cover photo: Pro Regime Leaflets Dropped on al Qusayr During the Second Offensive, 21 MAY 2013. 2 UNCLASSIFIED Threats Integration Team Threat Report Map Figure 1. The al Assi River Basin and city of al Qusayr Introduction Al Qusayr, a village in Syria’s Homs district, is a traditional transit point for personnel and goods traveling across the Lebanon/Syria border.
    [Show full text]
  • The 12Th Annual Report on Human Rights in Syria 2013 (January 2013 – December 2013)
    The 12th annual report On human rights in Syria 2013 (January 2013 – December 2013) January 2014 January 2014 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 3 Genocide: daily massacres amidst international silence 8 Arbitrary detention and Enforced Disappearances 11 Besiegement: slow-motion genocide 14 Violations committed against health and the health sector 17 The conditions of Syrian refugees 23 The use of internationally prohibited weapons 27 Violations committed against freedom of the press 31 Violations committed against houses of worship 39 The targeting of historical and archaeological sites 44 Legal and legislative amendments 46 References 47 About SHRC 48 The 12th annual report on human rights in Syria (January 2013 – December 2013) Introduction The year 2013 witnessed a continuation of grave and unprecedented violations committed against the Syrian people amidst a similarly shocking and unprecedented silence in the international community since the beginning of the revolution in March 2011. Throughout the year, massacres were committed on almost a daily basis killing more than 40.000 people and injuring 100.000 others at least. In its attacks, the regime used heavy weapons, small arms, cold weapons and even internationally prohibited weapons. The chemical attack on eastern Ghouta is considered a landmark in the violations committed by the regime against civilians; it is also considered a milestone in the international community’s response to human rights violations Throughout the year, massacres in Syria, despite it not being the first attack in which were committed on almost a daily internationally prohibited weapons have been used by the basis killing more than 40.000 regime. The international community’s response to the crime people and injuring 100.000 drew the international public’s attention to the atrocities others at least.
    [Show full text]
  • Commentary on the EASO Country of Origin Information Reports on Syria (December 2019 – May 2020) July 2020
    Commentary on the EASO Country of Origin Information Reports on Syria (December 2019 – May 2020) July 2020 1 © ARC Foundation/Dutch Council for Refugees, June 2020 ARC Foundation and the Dutch Council for Refugees publications are covered by the Create Commons License allowing for limited use of ARC Foundation publications provided the work is properly credited to ARC Foundation and the Dutch Council for Refugees and it is for non- commercial use. ARC Foundation and the Dutch Council for Refugees do not hold the copyright to the content of third party material included in this report. ARC Foundation is extremely grateful to Paul Hamlyn Foundation for its support of ARC’s involvement in this project. Feedback and comments Please help us to improve and to measure the impact of our publications. We’d be most grateful for any comments and feedback as to how the reports have been used in refugee status determination processes, or beyond: https://asylumresearchcentre.org/feedback/. Thank you. Please direct any questions to [email protected]. 2 Contents Introductory remarks ......................................................................................................................................... 4 Key observations ................................................................................................................................................ 5 General methodological observations and recommendations ......................................................................... 9 Comments on any forthcoming
    [Show full text]
  • Download This PDF File
    International Journal of Communication 14(2020), 5055–5071 1932–8036/20200005 Challenges in Codifying Events Within Large and Diverse Data Sets of Human Rights Documentation: Memory, Intent, and Bias JEFF DEUTCH1 Syrian Archive, Germany This article discusses challenges in codifying events within large and diverse data sets of human rights documentation, focusing on issues related to memory, intent, and bias. Clustering records by events allows for trends and patterns to be analyzed quickly and reliably, increasing the potential use of such content for research, advocacy, and accountability. Globally, archiving and preservation of user-generated digital materials documenting human rights abuses and war crimes are increasingly recognized as critical for advocacy, justice, and accountability. For the conflict in Syria, which began in 2011, there are more hours of user-generated content documenting rights violations uploaded to digital platforms than there have been hours in the conflict itself. Whereas some content has been clustered around specific events, such as larger open-source investigations by civil society and documentation efforts, the vast majority of content currently exists as individual unstructured records rather than jointly as clustered events within a relational database. The sheer amount of content and the near constant removals of materials from public channels mean that human rights monitors are in a race against time to preserve content, identify violations, and implicate potential perpetrators. Overcoming challenges
    [Show full text]