Syria: between the coronavirus and malnutrition, NGOs fear the worst

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3 min

Doctors announced Monday, August 17: the territories under the control of the Syrian regime have seen an increase in deaths and cases of coronavirus contamination among caregivers, in particular in hospitals in Damascus. For nearly two weeks, many have been worried about an explosion in the number of patients affected by the disease. And in addition to the virus, malnutrition also causes great harm to an already suffering population.

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In the Al-Hol IDP camp in northeastern Syria, eight children under 5 have died in recent days. They are among the symbols of the serious health crisis in Syria, where the Covid-19 epidemic is currently rebounding. Amjad Yamin, of the NGO “Save the children”, on the spot, is alarmist. Because the new coronavirus is not the only scourge that Syrians have to face: "  What we are seeing today and which worries us a lot is the high rate of malnutrition among children in the north-east of the country. Syria, and Syria in general.  "

► See also: Between coronavirus and economic crisis, the hard life of Syrian refugees from Beirut

Decline in purchasing power and supply difficulties

According to Amjad Yamin, the malnutrition that plagues children can be explained by three factors. First, the Covid-19 epidemic of course. The whole world is affected, but in this part of Syria, the disease makes humanitarian work even more difficult.

Second factor: economic collapse. “  The value of the Syrian pound is plummeting, which directly affects families. They see their purchasing power decrease and find it difficult to stock up on basic goods  , ”he explains. According to a recent UN report, in some areas more than 80% of families cannot afford basic food.

Finally, the last negative factor concerns the negotiations taking place around the crossing points for humanitarian aid. These crossing points "  have been reduced, and NGOs are now finding it difficult to reach the population there, which makes the situation even more difficult,  " says Amjad Yamin.

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