Following the news of the first case of COVID-19 in North East Syria, Sonia Khush, Save the Children Syria Response Director said:

“We’re desperately hoping that this first COVID-19 case in North East Syria can be contained or the consequences are unthinkable. In North East Syria, there are fewer than 30 intensive care unit beds, only ten adult ventilators and just one paediatric ventilator. This scarcity makes prevention critical – but how do you frequently wash your hands in camps and towns with erratic water supplies? How can someone socially distance in severely overcrowded shelters that used to function as schools?

“The conflict in Syria is now in its tenth year. Children are chronically malnourished and have often not been vaccinated against diseases. Neither have their families. The health system is decimated. 

“Aid workers must be allowed full access to communities so we can do all we can to slow the rate of infection by continuing social distancing strategies, providing remote education and distributing soap and other personal hygiene items. Families in North-East Syria have already lived through unimaginable horrors – we must act now to give them the best chance of combatting coronavirus.”

To support Save the Children’s global COVID-19 emergency appeal, click here.

Spokespeople are available.

To arrange an interview please contact Joelle Bassoul in Beirut joelle.bassoul@savethechildren.org 0096 1816 00696 or Davina Hagan in London 0044 7732 601762.

During out of office hours, please contact the 24-hour press office in London media@savethechildren.org.uk 0044 7831 650 409.

NOTES TO EDITORS

• North East Syria is home to 1.35 million people in need, half of whom are children. Coronavirus tests are still not available in all areas across Syria and the results are largely centralized by a Damascus laboratory.