Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Legislation
  • War On Terror
  • EU Affairs
  • Elections
  • News Analysis

COVID-19 testing starts in Syria's embattled Idlib, no infections yet, WHO says

by Compiled from Wire Services

ISTANBUL Mar 26, 2020 - 11:25 am GMT+3
The Humanitarian Relief Foundation (İHH), is working to inform the displaced Syrians in Idlib about the coronavirus by hanging banners and handing out brochures, and conducting seminars, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (DHA)
The Humanitarian Relief Foundation (İHH), is working to inform the displaced Syrians in Idlib about the coronavirus by hanging banners and handing out brochures, and conducting seminars, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (DHA)
by Compiled from Wire Services Mar 26, 2020 11:25 am
RECOMMENDED
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan casts his vote for presidential and parliamentary elections, in Istanbul, Türkiye, May 14, 2023. (AA Photo)

President Erdoğan casts his vote in Turkish elections in Istanbul

Recep-Tayyip-Erdoğan

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday that systematic testing for COVID-19 has started in Syria's last opposition stronghold, the northwestern province of Idlib.

Testing began "after a shipment of 300 tests reached a member of the World Health Organization's health cluster. The first four tests came back negative," the U.N. agency said in a statement.

"Some 600 additional tests will reach the laboratory in Idlib tomorrow on March 26, and a shipment of 5,000 tests is scheduled to arrive in Idlib next week," the statement said.

The U.N. agency also said it was shipping 10,000 gloves, 1,200 gowns, 10,500 masks, 200 goggles and 900 face shields to northwestern Syria.

"Personal protective equipment has already been distributed to 21 health care facilities" to deal with any outbreak of COVID-19, the agency said.

On Tuesday, a U.N. envoy, Geir Pedersen, called on Syria's warring parties to implement an immediate cease-fire across the entire country, to focus efforts on fighting the deadly COVID-19.

To date, the Syrian regime has announced that there are four coronavirus infections in areas under its control.

The fragile cease-fires in the Idlib region, as well as those in the northeast, should be expanded across the whole of Syria, Pedersen said in his statement.

The cease-fire deal, which ended rare direct fighting between the Syrian regime and Turkish troops, was brokered between Russia and Turkey, which back opposing sides in the Syrian conflict. The deal halted a three-month Syrian regime offensive into the country's last opposition stronghold. During the Russian-backed offensive, hundreds of civilians were killed, and nearly a million people were displaced in Idlib province.

The risk of an outbreak is especially high and most alarming in Syria's northwest, where overcrowded settlements are teeming with fresh arrivals, and many of the displaced are forced to sleep in freezing temperatures in open spaces.

The Humanitarian Relief Foundation (İHH), is working to inform the displaced Syrians in Idlib about the coronavirus by hanging banners and handing out brochures, and conducting seminars, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (DHA)
The Humanitarian Relief Foundation (İHH), is working to inform the displaced Syrians in Idlib about the coronavirus by hanging banners and handing out brochures, and conducting seminars, Thursday, March 26, 2020. (DHA)

As tests have been ongoing in the region, Turkey also continues to inform locals of the pandemic and its effects, as well as measures that can be taken to protect themselves.

Turkey's Communication Directorate delivered an information brochure in Arabic on Friday to help Syrians gain awareness about the virus.

The Health Ministry's Syria Mission Force Teams in the geographical areas covered by Operation Peace Spring, Operation Olive Branch and Operation Euphrates Shield have been delivering the six-page brochure to every household, while also alerting individual residents.

Nearly 500,000 brochures will be delivered by teams in the three regions.

The Turkish Health Ministry's Syria coordinator, Ümit Mutlu Tiryaki, said troops are looking at the health of those at the border and disinfecting some vehicles.

He said patients suspected of infection are being referred to hospitals in Turkey. "After a health check, if there is any potential for COVID-19, patients are being sent to Çobanbey Hospital in Turkey," he said.

Ten samples were sent to Turkey from Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ayn.

"So far, there have not been any positive COVID-19 test results. We are happy there is no case in the region," he said.

Muhammed Abdo, a resident of Hammam village in Afrin, said the brochures are very helpful and thanked Turkey for efforts in the region.

Meanwhile, one of the humanitarian groups in the country, the Humanitarian Relief Foundation (İHH), is also working to inform the displaced Syrians in Idlib about the coronavirus. In addition to hanging banners and handing out brochures, the group also conducts seminars.

"Since most of the camps in Idlib are not in good shape, there is a major necessity of taking serious measures against any epidemic," said Dr. İbrahim Tlass, the head of the health division of the group's Syria work, adding that the civilians in the region need to be well-informed and supported on the issue.

Tlass added that health kits, which include masks, soap, shampoo, detergent, cologne and bleach, are also being provided to civilians.

"We also gave a start to our works to disinfect the camps, schools and hospitals," he emphasized, indicating that so far, the group has managed to reach about 40,000 Syrian civilians.

RECOMMENDED
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan casts his vote for presidential and parliamentary elections, in Istanbul, Türkiye, May 14, 2023. (AA Photo)

President Erdoğan casts his vote in Turkish elections in Istanbul

Recep-Tayyip-Erdoğan
  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Mar 26, 2020 12:55 pm
    RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    coronavirus testing kits assad regime turkey-syria border turkey
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    Percival Lugue, who has the Guinness world record for the largest fast-food toy collection, poses with his toy collection in his home in Apalit, Pampanga province, Philippines, April 20, 2021. (REUTERS Photo)

    Filipino man collects record 200,000 toys from fast-food chains

    TOY-MANIA
    Parts of the newly completed last section of the Northern Marmara Motorway, Istanbul, Turkey, May 19, 2021. (DHA Photo)

    Turkey raises speed limits on highways starting from July

    SPEED-LIMIT

    Türkiye inaugurates biggest natural gas storage facility in Europe

    NATURAL-GAS-SUPPLIES

    Istanbul's consulate chronicles: Sudhi Choudhary, Consul General of India

    SUDHI-CHOUDHARY
    No Image
    In photos: US celebrates 4th of July
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021