WEEKLY REPORT
26 March – 1 April 2021
KEY DYNAMICS
Government fuel crisis intensifies...........................................................2
Government’s additional measures to combat COVID-19............3
ISIS destabilizes northeast .........................................................................................6
ISIS threats cause resignation of council members...........................6 SDF and IC search and arrest campaign in Al Hol camp..................6
Access and services in northern Syria......................................................................7
Syrian government seeks commercial crossings in north...............7 The return of water provision in Azaz city ...........................................9
Cover photo: SDF Raids in Al-Hol camp (Source: AFP/The National)
MERCY CORPS HUMANITARIAN ACCESS WEEKLY REPORT, 26 March – 1 April 2021 1
Government fuel and healthcare
Governorate fuel allocations significantly reduced
Government fuel crisis intensifies
The executive councils in several governorates announced the reduction of fuel allocations and additional administrative measures to cope with the unprecedented scarcity of fuel. At the end of March, the central fuel councils in Hama,
Tartous, Dar’a and Damascus imposed a limit on
private vehicles of 20 liters per week on benzene Additionally, fuel allocations in Hama and Damascus were reduced for both petrol and
diesel; Hama’s allocations went from 14 to 10
trucks for petrol and 14 to 6.5 for diesel and
Damascus’ dropped from 48 to 41 trucks for
petrol and 18 to 14 for diesel. Both governorates are reportedly prioritizing diesel distribution for hospitals, bakeries and public transport vehicles to avoid disruptions to basic services.
Fuel scarcity has reached an all-time high in Syrian government-held areas, causing gas stations to close down, extensive queuing and shortages throughout the governorates. In AsSweida, only five stations remain open to serve the entire population, while in Rural Damascus, local sources report queues up to one kilometer long, with citizens waiting two to three days in front of gas stations, some resorting to sleeping in their cars. In Damascus city, reports show that cars are absent on the streets, even during rush hour, although roads on which gas stations are open are full with citizens queuing in cars.
Figure 1: State supplied and black market price of benzene in Rural Damascus governorate
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Additionally in Tartous, the central fuel board has introduced a license plate system to reduce overcrowding in petrol stations. This system requires vehicles whose license plate ends with an odd number to fill-up on odd-numbered days of the month with a similar arrangement applied for those with license plates ending with an even number.
Suez canal blockage cause of increased fuel scarcity?
On 27 March, the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources stated that the blocking of the Suez Canal by the megaship Ever Given
“affected oil imports to Syria, causing significant
delays to the arrival of oil tankers carrying oil
products to Syria.” While Syria-bound oil
shipments coming from Iran generally use the Suez Canal, it is difficult to determine the itinerary and size of the shipment which the ministry is referring to in addition to its potential impact on alleviating the fuel crisis.
Fuel becoming increasingly unaffordable
Due to the general decrease in fuel supplies, the price of benzene has increased by more than 50% (to 4.500 SYP per liter) in a week in the black
- market in Rural Damascus (as shown in Figure 1).
- Regardless, despite the alleged delay, the causes
of the fuel crisis remain chronic. With sanctions deterring potential sellers, low foreign currency reserves preventing oil purchases, and part of the domestic oil supply tied up in other zones of control, the Syrian government is still reliant on Iran's oil shipments. These oil shipments, however, are also constantly in danger of disruption: Israel has reportedly targeted more than 12 Iranian oil shipments to Syria, with Iran lately hitting back by attacking an Israeli-owned container ship with a missile in the Arabian Sea on 25 March. While the arrival of the alleged oil shipment stuck in the Suez Canal may bring a reprieve to Syria's ever-intensifying fuel crisis, it is unlikely to be resolved unless structural issues hindering supply are resolved.
Besides the price increase on the black market, the Syrian government also increased its state supplied fuel prices on 15 March. The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Protection issued Decision 854 setting the price of several fuel-related products (as shown in Table 1).
Table 1: Official price increase of fuel related products under Decision 854
- Fuel type
- Old price
(SYP per liter)
New price (SYP per liter)
Percentage increase
- Gas canister
- 2,700
1,200
3,850 2,000
30 %
- 40 %
- 95-Octane
petrol
Subsidized benzene
- 475
- 750
- 37 %
50 %
Syrian government takes additional measures to combat COVID-19
Unsubsidized 650 benzene
1,300
On 27 March, the Ministerial Committee to Combat COVID-19, headed by Hussein Arnous,
MERCY CORPS HUMANITARIAN ACCESS WEEKLY REPORT, 26 March – 1 April 2021 3
Syrian prime minister, took several new steps to combat the virus's spread in government-held areas. The Committee has decided to repurpose the Heart Surgery Hospital in Damascus and the Police Hospital (if needed) to receive COVID-19 patients exclusively, and has instructed the Ministry of Electricity to continue providing electricity to oxygen pumping stations in Hama and Aleppo governorates. The committee has also requested the Minister of Industry to increase production of disinfectants for increased disinfection campaigns, and the Minister of Communications to increase awareness campaigns. hospitals in Rural Damascus are ready to move to Plan B if necessary. Nanous stated that Al Qutayfah, Jirud, Az-Zabadani, Qatana, and At Tall hospitals are at 60% capacity, adding that the COVID-19 quarantine wards and ICUs In the following hospitals were added to maximize capacity:
Table 2: Additional beds added across Damascus and Rural Damascus
Hospital
Qutayfah Qatana
Additional beds
30 beds in the quarantine ward 5 beds in the quarantine ward and 16 in the ICU
Ministry of Health expands COVID-19 capacity in Damascus and Rural Damascus
At Tall Jirud
8 beds in the quarantine ward and 6 in the ICU
On 29 March, the head of al-Nafis hospital in Damascus city, Dr. Nizar Ibrahim, stated that the hospital was at 56% capacity, with 33 beds out of 68 in the quarantine ward, and 15 out of 17 in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) now occupied. Ibrahim also stated that the hospital has a reserve oxygen tank that can fit up to 10 tons of liquid oxygen for patients in need of ventilators. The announcements relating to capacity came with the news that 35 to 40 patients displaying COVID-19 symptoms have been visiting the hospital on a daily basis since the beginning of March.
6 in the ICU
- Az-
- 30 in the quarantine ward and 4 in the
- ICU
- Zabadani
Government continues to pursue counterproductive policies
While health officials paint an optimistic picture
about the healthcare system’s readiness to
welcome more COVID-19 patients, local sources have described the situation in some areas as desperate, as many citizens are still unable to find a vacancy in government hospitals. Reports show patients in al-Muwasat hospital in
Damascus city sleeping in the hospital’s garden
due to absence of vacant rooms. Sources also report that the huge cost of hospitalization has prompted people to choose to set up makeshift
On the same day, head of the Damascus directorate of health, Dr. Yassine Nanous, stated that all quarantine wards specialized to welcome COVID-19 patients have oxygen, the necessary medicine, and personal protective equipment for the medical staff, and that all government
MERCY CORPS HUMANITARIAN ACCESS WEEKLY REPORT, 26 March – 1 April 2021 4
treatment rooms in their houses, which has greatly increased the demand for oxygen and oxygen tanks.
told media sources, “the amount of oxygen we
have is sufficient to last us for days until the
company sends us another batch.” Dr. Jean
Homsi, head of Elias al-Hrawi government
hospital, also stated that “the situation is still the same, we did not order a new batch….I think that
we have enough oxygen to last us both today and
tomorrow.” This revelation has led many to perceive Assad’s directive as a public relations
ploy to score political points at the expense of public health in Syria.
Despite the need for oxygen in government-held areas, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad directed the Ministry of Health on 24 March to grant neighboring Lebanon 75 tonnes of liquid oxygen. Dr. Hassan al-Ghabash, Syrian health minister,
stated that the government “received a phone call from Lebanon’s minister of health asking the
Syrian government for help in providing oxygen for COVID-19 patients in ICUs in Lebanese
hospitals.” Ghabash acknowledged Syria’s
difficult public health situation stating that the
country is “going through difficulties and the hospitals are full of patients” but added that “Syria is used to providing assistance” and that they are “ready to help.”
After Damascus, Tartous governorate suspends non-emergency medical operations
On 24 March, Tartous health ministry suspended non-emergency medical operations and directed hospitals to increase hospital capacity and readiness of their medical staff to treat COVID- 19 patients akin to the Damascus health directorate’s measures. The measures come after statements by health officials in the governorate highlighted the deteriorating
situation. Head of al-Bassil hospital’s general
authority, Iskandar Amar, stated that the number of COVID-19 patients in the quarantine ward increased from 60 to 71 within days, adding that the number of patients displaying COVID- 19 symptoms continues to grow. Of note, the Tartous health directorate reported 1,154 COVID-19 cases back in February, while the
Ministry of Health’s current numbers in the
governorate stand at 1,550 cases.
The news caused frustration among the Syrian population, who saw that the oxygen stocks they desperately needed would be given to the neighboring country. Moreover, several health officials in Lebanon later stated that they had no need for the oxygen. Dr. Firas al-Abiad, head of Rafik al-Hariri government hospital in Beirut,
Healthcare workers are continuing their plea for citizens to abide by precautionary measures to help contain the virus's spread. While healthcare workers seem to be hard at work to expand the
Lebanon’s Minister of Health Dr. Hamad Hassan in a meeting with Syria’s Minister of Health Dr. Hassan
al-Ghabash on 24 March
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healthcare system's capacity to cope with the increasing number of cases, the government appears to be continuing with its series of
counterproductive policies making the task of
healthcare workers increasingly difficult. Given the absence of full coordination and unified policy orientation towards combating COVID- 19, insufficient resources, and the government's prioritization of political and economic gains over public health, it is likely that the COVID-19 situation will continue to worsen in Syrian government areas.
Thiban) and the northern canton (Sur), where ISIS cells are widespread.
SDF and IC search and arrest campaign in Al Hol camp
On 26 March, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Rapid Intervention Forces, AntiTerrorism Forces, Internal Security forces (ISF, formerly Asayish), the People's Protection Units
(YPG), Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), in
addition to aerial coverage from the International Coalition (IC), began a search and raid operation on Al-Hol camp.
ISIS destabilizes northeast
Sources indicate that camp authorities have suspended most humanitarian activities because of the operation. In addition, vandalism against NGO property by residents has occurred, including the burning of a school, looting of an administrative center and damage to a childcare center. In response, NGOs have successfully advocated for the resumption of most critical activities, and will progressively restart services as and when the operation finishes in each phase.
ISIS threats cause resignation of council members
On 26 March, nine Basira (Basira subdistrict) Central Canton Council members, including Amer al-Hamad, head of the Education Committee, and Nisreen al-Assaf, co-chair of the Coordination Committee, resigned from their posts after only two weeks of their appointment. Local sources reported Hamad and Assaf confirmed that their resignation came after ISIS had threatened them with death if they continued to work for the Self-Administration.
Following the operation, in which reports show 53 camp residents were arrested on suspicion of ISIS affiliation, various members of the security forces released statements on its success. US military spokesperson Col. Wayne Marotto tweeted that Abu Saad Al-Iraqi, a prominent ISIS leader, was captured during the operation. The SDF's Coordination and Military Operations Center added that they discovered a cache filled with ISIS-related materials and that 4,089 names of residents had their identities verified. Kino Gabriel, spokesperson for the SDF, stated that during the operation, camp residents were
The Self-Administration accepted the nine members' resignation without comment and appointed new members in their place. The SelfAdministration has also not announced any measures to curb threats from ISIS, while ISIS threats continue to target its Arab employees. In the long-run, this may cause an imbalance in the
- representation
- of
- Arab’s
- within
- the
administrative structure of Deir-ez-Zor, especially in the central canton (Basira and
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photographed and finger-printed to ensure their identity and in an effort to stop infiltration attempts into the camp. Mazloum Abdi, secretary-general of the SDF, tweeted about the operation, calling on countries to "take back their citizens and provide more humanitarian support to Al-Hol camp to improve the camp's conditions," referring to foreign residents in AlHol.
Access and services in northern Syria
Syrian government seeks to open commercial crossings in north
Government’s aborted attempt to reopen crossings in northwest
On 24 March, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that it had reached an agreement with the Turkish authority to reopen crossing points between opposition and Syrian government-held areas in the northwest. According to the statement, humanitarian and civilian traffic would be allowed to resume in Saraqab (Saraqab subdistrict) and Mezanaz (Atareb subdistrict) crossing points in Idleb and Abu Zendin crossing point (Al Bab subdistrict) in northern Aleppo, from 25 March. However in an apparent about-turn on 30 March deputy head of the Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria, Alexander Karpov, announced the re-closure of the three crossings: Allegedly opposition groups
had been involved in “provocative bombing” and
disrupting the movement of civilians. There remains no evidence of any aggression against personnel or civilians at border crossings.
The massive security campaign comes amid the increasing number of security incidents in AlHol. It was reported that during the first three months of 2021, the camp witnessed nearly 40 deaths – including two children – with Syrian and Iraqi citizens the exclusive targets. Most of these crimes were reportedly carried out using guns with silencers instead of homemade weapons, indicating the possibility of an organized network of smuggling advanced weapons into the camp. HAT reported on concerns and durable solutions in Al-Hol camp, including the complexity of the environment, protection and human rights issues, and societal acceptance of returnees who leave Al-Hol and return to their areas of origin.
Local sources confirmed that the Saraqab crossing was opened by Syrian government forces, and was likely closed due to a lack of movement or uptake in commercial activity from opposition-held areas. Furthermore, locals in Idleb, Afrin and Janders (Afrin subdistrict), among other towns and villages in the northwest, demonstrated against the openings, taking issue with trade and movement with the Syrian government.
SDF raids in Al-Hol camp. (Source: Enab Baladi)
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Crossing points between Syrian government and opposition-held areas in northwest Syria have been closed for over a year. Several commercial crossings, including al-Madiq Castle, Al-Eis and Murak linked these areas before the Syrian government's last military campaign in February 2020, along with previously mentioned humanitarian and civilian routes. Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) attempted to reopen the Saraqab and Mezanaz crossings in April 2020, however failed due to civilian protests at the time. would exclusively come under Syrian government control.
New commercial crossing in northeast could alleviate government crises
On 24 March, the Syrian government's Fourth Division established a new crossing in Sheib Eldakar (Mansura subdistrict) in the western countryside of Tabaqa, in Ar-Raqqa governorate. This announcement came after the Fourth Division closed the Tabaqa, Sabkha, and Al-Hura crossings for several days before partially reopening the Tabaqa crossing for students and humanitarian actors. These are the three main crossing points for civilians, goods and fuel from Self-Administration to Syrian government-held areas in Ar-Raqqa.
Unwilling opposition and strategic government maneuvers
While Turkey has not commented on the Russian statement, the head of the Turkish-backed Syrian Interim Government (SIG), Abd alRahman Mustafa, stated that claims of an agreement being reached are inaccurate. The
