WEEKLY REPORT 17 – 23 July 2020

Key Dynamics

COVID-19  COVID-19 cases in and around overwhelm Syrian healthcare system  COVID-19 outbreak in northwest leads to restrictions on freedom of movement

Volatile security dynamics  SDF’s anti-ISIS operation in Deir-ez-Zor accused of overreach  Deteriorating security situation in northern  Recent anti-government attack in reflects continuing grievances in Dar‘a

Reconstruction plans  Criticism of Damascus reconstruction plans grows among local communities, loyalist circles

MERCY CORPS Weekly Report 17 – 23 July 2020 > 1 COVID-19 cases in and around ventilators in circulation are not operating at Damascus overwhelm Syrian full capacity due to low electricity provided by hospital generators. The Syrian healthcare system government also does not allow private On 17 July, local sources stated that the Syrian hospitals to take in COVID-19 cases, instead Ministry of Health instructed government asking that any patient displaying symptoms hospitals in Damascus and Rural Damascus be directed to the government hospital where governorates to stop taking in COVID-19 the Ministry can conduct polymerase chain patients. The Ministry reportedly instructed reaction (PCR) tests on the patient. COVID-19 patients who have no severe symptoms (and do not need hospital COVID-19 cases highest in Damascus treatment) to quarantine themselves inside Local sources state that the rate of COVID-19 their homes. The move comes as government cases is particularly high in Damascus and hospitals lack sufficient numbers of beds and Rural Damascus, adding that those cases ventilators to deal with higher numbers of reported by the government are of COVID-19 patients, an issue compounded by individuals that have been submitted to the fact that the already low number of government hospitals, and exclude random testing results. Syrian government figures, as

Table 1: Active cases of COVID-19 by governorate (Source: Syrian Ministry of Health)

Governorate Number of active cases

Damascus 179

Rural Damascus 74

Quneitra 23

Aleppo 29

Lattakia 16

Hama 10

Homs 5

As-Sweida 6

Dar‘a 6

Tartous 1

MERCY CORPS Weekly Report 17 – 23 July 2020 > 2 of 21 July, show that barbershops adhere to safety regulations (by has the highest number of active cases, enforcing the wearing of masks and use of followed by Rural Damascus. hand sterilizers). New measures point to inaccuracy of Syrian On 19 July, the SSG also issued Statement No. 70 suspending Quranic teachings in , government’s COVID-19 reporting and calling on local imams and preachers to According to a recent study entitled ‘COVID- invite worshippers to adhere to preventive 19 Pandemic: Syria’s Response and measures. Healthcare Capacity’ conducted by the Whereas the Bab ElHawa border crossing was London School of Economics, Syrian initially closed a week earlier, the crossing’s government hospitals in Damascus have 96 managing authorities rescinded the decision ICU beds with ventilators, while in Rural on 20 July, allowing civilian access to and Damascus ICU beds number just 11. The from Turkey. The crossing’s authorities did, government-reported cases alone, when however, issue a statement calling on compared to the reported available travellers to take all precautions to limit the ICU/ventilator beds, show that the hospitals spread of COVID-19 by wearing masks, may already be operating over capacity. regularly washing hands and maintaining a However, the maximum capacity threshold safe distance of at least one and a half meters for ‘rationing measures,’ (akin to the recent from others. measures reported above), is 1,920 cases for Damascus and 220 for Rural Damascus – Negative knock-on effects suggesting that Syrian government figures Measures were also placed on the Deir may be lower than actual prevalence. Ballut–Ghazawiyeh crossing in the Aleppo COVID-19 outbreak in northwest countryside, meaning that only military personnel and those with a permit from the Syria leads to restrictions on freedom local council are allowed to cross until further of movement notice. The decree excludes military families, Following the recent detection of the first civilians and traders. There have been COVID-19 cases in Syria’s northwest, Idleb, accounts of local doctors and relief workers western and northern Aleppo saw a return to facing restricted access at the checkpoint as implementation of COVID-19 precautionary a result. measures. Previous rounds of preventative measures On 18 July, the Syrian Salvation Government indicate that restrictions on freedom of (SSG) issued Statement No. 54 calling on civilians to take all necessary measures to You might have missed; avoid gatherings in groups in public areas,  The Public Monetary Authority and statement No. 55 ordering the closure of  Anti-government protests public swimming pools, public gardens and  UN Resolution 2504 children’s playgrounds, while stipulating that  HTS, Hurras ad-Din clashes restaurants only work delivery services and

MERCY CORPS Weekly Report 17 – 23 July 2020 > 3 movement, coupled with a lack of confiscated a number of ferries reportedly government aid alternatives, can produce a used to smuggle raw materials and fuel, range of negative knock-on effects in the causing a number of smugglers to take refuge region. These include a noticeable increase in in the Syrian government-controlled areas crime, crossline smuggling of goods, inter- west of the , particularly in the armed opposition group clashes as well as town of Baqras (Al- subdistrict). protests in both administrative zones of the During the course of the operation, the SDF northwest. Precautionary measures have also arrested a total of 37 individuals, the majority heavily affected the local populations’ access of whom were civilians accused of being to humanitarian supplies as crossline either ISIS members or collaborators with the checkpoint closures have restricted the hard-line organisation. availability of goods and access to proper healthcare and many hospitals have halted Local council leader arrested cold case operations. The operation, however, has been criticized by local communities for overreaching its SDF’s anti-ISIS operation in Deir-ez- stated aims. Primarily, the head of the Shiheil Zor accused of overreach city local council, Hammoud Al-Nawfal, was On the morning of 17 July, the Syrian temporarily arrested and photographed Democratic Forces (SDF) and US-led alongside other detainees beside weapons International Coalition launched the second reportedly confiscated from ISIS cells. Nawfal, phase of their ‘Deter Terror’ campaign who enjoys good relations with the self- targeting ISIS sleeper cells in Deir-ez-Zor and administration and havals (local Al-Hasakeh governorate. The search and raid administrators), had met with commander- operation in Deir-ez-Zor, which lasted a total in-chief of the SDF, Ferhat Abdi Şahin, known of four days (ending on 20 July), was mainly by his nom de guerre as Mazlum Abdi, on 14 concentrated in the towns of Shiheil, Sabha, July as part of a delegation of local and Zir (Basira subdistrict), Dahleh and Jdid community leaders and sheikhs. Ekeidat ( subdistrict), as well as to a lesser extent Jdidet Bikara (Khasham Freedom of movement restricted subdistrict). The SDF imposed a curfew in the Residents and IDPs in the area were region and erected military checkpoints reportedly obliged to travel a distance of 2– inside and at the entrances of the town of 3km to secure bread; as a result of the SDF Shiheil, prevented Friday prayers, restricted campiagn the majority of bakeries were the free movement of civilians during the first forced to stop operating in the area and local and second days of the operation, and only businesses also forced to close. Finally, the allowed the movement of women (to secure campaign disrupted the work of their basic needs) in the last two days of the organizations present in the area as operation. employees were prevented from moving The SDF also raided the illegal smuggling freely within the region. crossing in the town of Shiheil and

MERCY CORPS Weekly Report 17 – 23 July 2020 > 4 The SDF excluded members of the Abu-Kamal The Russian air force attack on the city of al- clan from engaging in the search and arrest Bab is the first Russian attack on the city, operations in Shiheil, as the majority of the which is considered the largest population towns’ residents hail from the clan, amid centre under the control of the Turkish- fears this could worsen Arab-Kurdish backed SNA. The town is also home to the relations in the area. largest Turkish military base within Syria. Clan members who did take part in the Areas under direct Turkish influence have operation included the Al-Bakir and Al- previously been isolated from military Shaitat clans in Shiheil (which is majority- operations and shelling given that Turkish Abu-Kamal); Al-Shaitat clan members in the forces are stationed in those areas. Some town of Sabha, Braiha and Jdaidit Akidat sources suggest the aerial bombardment may (which are majority-Al-Bakkir). Still, there have been in response to a roadside bombing remains a risk of heightening tribal that targeted a Russian–Turkish joint military sensitivities in the region, particularly among patrol on the M4 highway in Idleb countryside the Al-Bakir, Al-Shu’aitat, Al-Bukamil and on 14 July, resulting in the wounding of three AlBou-Ezzeddine clans, which reportedly Russian soldiers. have many unresolved conflicts that could be SNA and Turkish military clashes with the Kurdish exacerbated by current events. Militias Deteriorating security situation in Clashes also erupted between the SNA and northern Aleppo the Kurdish militia on the western outskirts of Areas of northern Aleppo witnessed a military . The Turkish military bombed the escalation between Syrian government forces Kurdish-held village of Maraanaz in response (backed by Russia) on the one hand and the to the attack. Kurdish militia attacks have Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) occurred despite an agreement reached by on the other. Turkey and Russia on 22 October 2019, which Ten civilians, including a woman and eight provides for the removal of all Kurdish children, were wounded as a result of Russian militias and their weapons from the areas of airstrikes that targeted residential and Tall Refaat in . neighborhoods in the city of al-Bab on 17 July. At the same time, northern Aleppo has On 20 July, Syrian government forces shelled witnessed a series of explosions during the Grad rockets in the vicinity of the village of past week. A vehicle-based IED exploded a Brat near the city of al-Bab, killing two military vehicle belonging to the Turkish- civilians and wounding another. Turkish army backed Failaq al-Sham on 19 July on the artillery targeted Syrian government forces Jandairis road in Afrin city, injuring three based in Daghelbash (al-Bab subdistrict). As a Failaq al-Sham members as well as ten result, the SNA fortified its checkpoints within civilians, including six children. On the same the al-Bab area on the instructions of the day, a car bomb exploded on the Sajo Turkish army. roundabout on the Bab AlSalameh crossing road north of the city of Azaz, killing 12 and

MERCY CORPS Weekly Report 17 – 23 July 2020 > 5 wounding more than a 100 people. The SNA his home by armed men before local former- accused Kurdish militias of being responsible opposition fighters deployed in the town, for this explosion. setting up checkpoints, imposing a curfew and accusing the Syrian government of Recent anti-government attack in carrying out the kidnapping. Jasim reflects continuing grievances in Dar‘a Instability in Jasim synonymous with that of Dar‘a On 18 July, Jasim township’s local police The instability in Jasim is just one microcosm branch was targeted with an IED explosion of the wider security situation in Dar‘a that was heard across the town’s governorate as a whole, where kidnappings, neighborhoods. The explosion was followed arrests and assassinations take place almost by several simultaneous attacks conducted on a daily basis. Indeed, the Dar‘a Martyrs by unknown gunmen against Syrian Documentation office stated that 16 government checkpoints and positions assassinations took place in the month of across Jasim, including the State Security June alone. Such actions usually result in a branch located near the town’s cultural backlash from former-opposition fighters, center. While the identity of the unknown who view such acts as being violations of the gunmen (likely former opposition fighters) July 2018 reconciliation agreement, leading remains unknown, local sources stated that them to retaliate through insurgent attacks the main motivation behind the attacks was that further contribute to the governorate’s to warn and deter the government of Syria instability. from conducting further arrests in the Criticism of Damascus reconstruction township. plans grows among local Syrian government accused of kidnapping and communities, loyalist circles assassinating Jasim residents Approved in a special session of Damascus Jasim township has been experiencing governorate’s council on 25 June, chronic instability since the Syrian reconstruction plans for Qaboun, to the east government captured the town through a of Damascus, and in the reconciliation agreement in July 2018. southern Damascus suburbs, have since Kidnappings and assassinations – largely attracted criticism from a broad range of civil targeting former opposition fighters and society groups in the capital, as well as commanders – have been frequent since ordinary citizens displaced from the two then. On 12 July, former opposition leader and suburbs during the course of the conflict. Dar‘a Central Committee member Yasser While this kind of criticism would have been Ibrahim Al Dafinat was reportedly shot, almost unthinkable in Syria before 2011, it before succumbing to his wounds and dying reflects a growing awareness about the plans’ the following day. On 23 June, former leader potentially catastrophic impacts on the of the opposition faction Jaysh Ababil, Fadi humanitarian conditions and housing, land Ahmad Mahasna, was kidnapped in front of

MERCY CORPS Weekly Report 17 – 23 July 2020 > 6 and property (HLP) rights of affected former social media; it has since been signed by at property owners and residents. least 350 signatories comprising journalists, The organizational plans have been in the writers and community figures as well as offing for years, and were originally slated to activists now in the diaspora who were be implemented under Law 10/2018 – the previously affiliated with post-2011 civil Syrian government’s set-piece reconstruction society movements in Yarmuk. Around the legislation. Human rights groups have been same time, the General Union of Palestinian warning for years that the law provides a Engineers in Syria issued a more muted procedural veneer to HLP violations carried statement, addressed to Syrian President out by the Syrian government and its allies Bashar al-Assad directly, questioning the since the beginning of the conflict, including efficacy of the plans. arbitrary demolitions and property Lawyers and community figures have expropriations. However, it now appears that launched an online campaign in an attempt Qaboun and Yarmuk will be redeveloped to help former residents identify their homes under other laws: namely Law 23/2015 and and verify ownership in line with Law 5/1982. That second law will crucially requirements stipulated in Law 10 and other deny former residents the housing support HLP laws. and alternative housing options stipulated in There has already been some rankling within Law 10, meaning they will only be offered Palestinian loyalist circles. On 25 June, a ‘shares’ in the development. meeting of the Damascus-based Alliance of 1 ‘Selling off’ Yarmuk Palestinian Forces, attended by senior factional representatives including Talal Naji, Public criticism of reconstruction proposals the Popular Front for the Liberation of are not unheard of in government-held Syria, Palestine (PFLP-GC)’s assistant secretary- although criticism related to the Yarmouk general, criticised the Yarmuk plan because it plans seems broader in nature – perhaps in would prevent the return of large sections of part because of the generally higher levels of the camp’s former residents. It remains political organization that existed in unclear what leverage, if any, pro- Palestinian-Syrian camps than Syrian government Palestinian factions actually communities before 2011 (through, for have to push for changes to the plan. It’s also example, Palestinian factions, civil society worthy of note that factions are not united on networks and local political associations), but the issue: days ago, a voice note attributed to also the many promises of return offered by Khalid Jibril, son of PFLP-GC Secretary- government officials to Yarmuk residents in General Ahmad Jibril, circulated widely on recent years. WhatsApp and Palestinian-Syrian social On 18 July, a robustly worded open letter media channels. In the recording, Jibril criticising the plans began circulating on appeared to blame displaced Palestinian

11 The Alliance of Palestinian Forces (also previously known as the ‘Alliance of 10’) was originally formed as a grouping of Damascus-aligned Palestinian factions in rejection of the Oslo Accords signed between Israel and the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah in 1993.

MERCY CORPS Weekly Report 17 – 23 July 2020 > 7 residents from Yarmuk for “selling off family (which oversaw reconciliation and Yarmuk” by fleeing the country and seeking evacuation negotiations in the area), are asylum in Europe. preparing to invest in the area and ensure Former property owners and residents now that Qaboun is re-zoned and redeveloped as have two weeks left in which to officially a lucrative real estate opportunity rather lodge objections about the organisational than an area rehabilitated for the benefit of plan for Yarmuk, after which Damascus its former business owners and residents. Governorate is supposed to address Humanitarian impacts written-in to Syrian objections and amend plans accordingly. government’s HLP plans Longstanding disputes over Qaboun HAT is closely following developments redevelopment surrounding the recent approved Similar complaints in the past have not been reconstruction plans for Qaboun and Yarmuk, enough to change the broad brushstrokes of and will shortly release an in-depth thematic the Syrian government’s reconstruction report detailing the possible humanitarian plans. Qaboun, the other area now earmarked impacts resulting from the proposed for redevelopment under the 25 June plans, redevelopments along with has been the subject of fierce debate recommendations for how humanitarian between local business owners and agencies could respond in the future. industrialist associations in the capital since Although HLP violations in Syria are often around 2018 when Damascus Governorate talked about in theoretic and/or legalistic first began floating the possibility of terms, it’s important to note the increasingly implementing Law 10/2018 in the area. obvious humanitarian challenges that will Damascene industrialists and business result from them. Despite conflicting and owners who previously owned factories, contradictory statements from Damascus workshops or small businesses in Qaboun are governorate officials in the past, it now particularly angered by proposals that will appears that both the Qaboun and Yarmuk see the area’s former industrial zone – the developments will cement war-time only one of its kind actually within the city- displacements – impacting hundreds of limits – razed and relocated to Adra industrial thousands of property owners and former City (on the northeastern outskirts of residents at a time of unprecedented Damascus). Informal settlements once home economic crisis in Syria. The fact that those to some 90,000 residents have already been displacements will now occur without almost completely razed ready for alternative housing or rent support payments redevelopment. There are indications that provided could prove critical for many former business interests with close links to residents of the two areas. President Assad, namely pro-government tycoon Muhammad Hamsho and the Shaleesh

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CONTACT

Nicholas Bodanac Humanitarian Access Team [email protected]

The Humanitarian Access Team (HAT) was established in Beirut in March 2015 in response to the collective challenges facing the remote humanitarian response in Syria. Successful humanitarian and development interventions require a nuanced and objective understanding of the human ecosystems in which these interventions occur. To this end, the HAT’s most important function is to collect, triangulate, synthesize, analyze and operationalize disparate data and information. Since 2015, HAT analysis has provided a forward-looking template for international interventions in Syria, and facilitated an increasingly nimble, adaptive, integrated, and ultimately impactful international response to the Syrian conflict.

The Syria Humanitarian Access Team are making improvements to our weekly report. If you would like to provide feedback on any changes we have made, please contact: [email protected]

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