UNSC voices concern over COVID-19's devastating impact on Syria

The UN Security Council (UNSC) has expressed concerns over the humanitarian situation in Syria and the potential devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the war-torn country.

On Monday, the Council held a briefing via video teleconference on the situation in Syria and was briefed on by UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock and UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen, reports Xinhua news agency.

The Council members stressed the need to ensure the necessary conditions to tackle the spread of COVID-19 in Syria and called on all parties to ensure safe, sustained and unimpeded humanitarian assistance, including medical items, in all parts of the country and to all Syrians in need.

The members called on all parties to ensure a sustained period of calm throughout the country and reaffirmed the need for the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 2254, which envisions a political settlement of the Syria conflict.

During the briefing on Monday, Lowcock warned that the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to have a devastating impact on the vulnerable communities in conflict-affected Syria.

"As of this morning, 10 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Syria, including one death. Judging from other places, that is the tip of the iceberg. The virus has the potential to have a devastating impact on the vulnerable communities across the country," the UN humanitarian chief said.

"Syria's health services are extremely fragile. Only around half of its hospitals and primary healthcare centers were fully functional at the end of last year," he said.

Lowcock said that the UN-supported surveillance and early warning systems have been reinforced across the country, in joint efforts with relevant authorities.

Preparedness and response plans have also been developed and the pre-positioning of equipment and supplies, the rehabilitation of the Central Public Health Laboratory, the upgrading of available isolation units, and community engagement programs are all underway.

"But all efforts to prevent, detect and respond to COVID-19 are impeded by Syria's fragile health system, by high levels of population movement, challenges to obtaining critical supplies, including protective equipment and ventilators, and by the practical difficulties of implementing isolation and protective measures in areas of displacement, with high population density and low levels of sanitation services," said Lowcock.

Noting that the pandemic is already further restricting the UN's ability to access affected communities, the UN humanitarian chief reiterated the UN chief's call for a complete and immediate nationwide ceasefire throughout Syria to enable an all-out effort to suppress COVID-19.