Active Parties in Syria Did Not Adhere to Human Rights Standards While Addressing the Coronavirus

The continuing spread of the Corona pandemic and the lack of a vaccine for everyone at the present time has left many repercussions and caused a comprehensive health and economic crisis around the world, and a threat to basic human rights of life, health and the right to transportation, as well as diminishing the right to work and the right to education, this has led to double the responsibilities on Countries and governments to take measures and procedures to combat the virus and limit its spread, protect societies and provide all means to mitigate the effects of the disease and its repercussions on the public health of their citizens, given that any measures taken by governments to deal with this crisis will affect the fate of hundreds of thousands of people.

On the other hand, all parties in Syria did not show a real response in combating the epidemic, which, according to testimonies from within Syria, has reached unprecedented levels in an environment in which the lowest levels of transparency are not available, and in light of intelligence pressures, and the inaction of the health sector, which has begun to enter the stage of collapse. These conditions have created an environment and an opportunity for the Syrian government for political exploitation, by holding international sanctions responsible for the inability of the health sector in dealing with the pandemic.

In the period covered by the report between August, 2020 and the end of December, 2020, it was clear how the government failed to provide the required protection for medical workers, restricted the movement of aid workers, and hindered the arrival of aids with the policies of siege and starvation. In addition to the exploitation by the controlling parties of water, controlling it and using it as a political tool. Furthermore, there were forced evictions of some territories, which increases the probability of the virus spread and the danger of catching the virus.

The report depended on testimonies from people who have lived through the measurements undertaken by the controlling parties in Syria, in addition to testimonies from some health sector workers, humanitarian organizations, and people in direct contact with detainees of the Syrian government. In addition to reviewing and cross-examining the information published by local media outlets and the governmental declarations and decisions relevant to addressing the pandemic.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) infections in all of Syria numbered 41,299, while declared deaths amounted to 1,415 deaths.

To read the Report: