WEEKLY REPORT 17 – 23 July 2020 Key Dynamics COVID-19 COVID-19 cases in and around Damascus overwhelm Syrian healthcare system COVID-19 outbreak in northwest Syria 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 Aleppo Recent anti-government attack in Jasim 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 Damascus governorate 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 mosques, 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 Euphrates, particularly in the armed opposition group clashes as well as town of Baqras (Al-Mayadin 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 (Khasham 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 Azaz. 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.