Syrians Treat Themselves at Home to Avoid State Health Sector Confusion

A man walks in empty Souk al-Hamidieh as restrictions are imposed as measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Damascus, Syria March 24, 2020. REUTERS/Omar Sanadiki
A man walks in empty Souk al-Hamidieh as restrictions are imposed as measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Damascus, Syria March 24, 2020. REUTERS/Omar Sanadiki
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Syrians Treat Themselves at Home to Avoid State Health Sector Confusion

A man walks in empty Souk al-Hamidieh as restrictions are imposed as measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Damascus, Syria March 24, 2020. REUTERS/Omar Sanadiki
A man walks in empty Souk al-Hamidieh as restrictions are imposed as measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Damascus, Syria March 24, 2020. REUTERS/Omar Sanadiki

Thousands of people infected with Covid-19 in Syria are treating themselves at home amid difficult conditions caused by the lack of medicine, electricity, and even water during the summer heat.

As the Ministry of Health in Damascus continues to struggle in the face of the rapid spread of the coronavirus, Syrians are mourning dozens of people every day without announcing the cause of death.

Official figures on the number of infections seem far from reality. During the past two days, the Ministry of Health said that only 15 infections were recorded in Aleppo, eight in Homs, seven in Tartous and Hama, and five infections in each of Damascus, Rif Dimashq and Quneitra. It also noted that 13 recovery cases were recorded in Damascus and its countryside against two deaths, one in Homs and the other in Tartous.

In a statement earlier this week, the Doctors’ Syndicate in Damascus announced the death of three doctors after they came into contact with people infected with the coronavirus, bringing the number of medics who died in Damascus as a result of Covid-19 to ten within two weeks.

Meanwhile, dozens of obituaries are plastered every day on the walls of streets in Damascus for people who died from the pandemic, most of them elderly.

A university professor in Damascus, who is infected with the coronavirus told Asharq Al-Awsat in a phone conversation that she and three of her brothers were being treated at home under the supervision of doctors over the phone.

She confirmed that they did not perform a PCR test, but rather that they were diagnosed in a clinic. She also said that about ten of her colleagues with Covid-19 were receiving treatment at home, except for one case, who was hospitalized and passed away on Thursday.



Lebanon to Increase Army Personnel Ahead of Possible Deployment South of Litani

Prime Minister Najib Mikati chairing the cabinet meeting (Photo: The Prime Minister’s office)
Prime Minister Najib Mikati chairing the cabinet meeting (Photo: The Prime Minister’s office)
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Lebanon to Increase Army Personnel Ahead of Possible Deployment South of Litani

Prime Minister Najib Mikati chairing the cabinet meeting (Photo: The Prime Minister’s office)
Prime Minister Najib Mikati chairing the cabinet meeting (Photo: The Prime Minister’s office)

The Lebanese government has approved funding to recruit 1,500 new military personnel in the Lebanese Army as part of an initiative to increase military presence along the southern border, amid Israel’s ongoing hostilities.
The funds will be provided to the Ministry of Defense as an advance, a decision highlighted by the Minister of Information for its political and international significance, particularly in relation to implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati in the caretaker government emphasized that continued and escalating Israeli attacks on Lebanon amount to crimes against humanity. He stated that a primary pathway to a resolution involves halting hostilities against the country, fully implementing Resolution 1701, and electing a new president to restore institutional order, stability, and initiate reconstruction.

Mikati condemned what he described as an international failure to stop Israel’s actions against Lebanon, which include attacks on towns and villages, civilian deaths, and strikes against medical and relief personnel.
“We condemn and hold the international community responsible for the continuation of Israel’s genocidal war on Lebanon, its destruction of towns and villages, killing of civilians, assassination of army personnel, and targeting of medical teams, civil defense, relief teams, and journalists.
“Additionally, the attacks on UNIFIL, which represents international legitimacy, make targeting UNIFIL an assault on the international community and the Security Council. This destruction continues to affect hospitals, schools, and educational centers,” stated Mikati.
On the international front, Mikati highlighted the solidarity shown by world figures, referring to his discussions with leaders like Jordan’s King Abdullah, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, and Britain’s Prime Minister. This was further demonstrated during the Paris Conference in Support of Lebanon -late on October- he underlined, specifically thanking France for its humanitarian efforts and military support.
But he added: “But unfortunately, Israel is blatantly disregarding all international efforts to achieve a ceasefire.”
The prime minister reiterated Lebanon’s stance on safeguarding its dignity and sovereignty across air, sea, and land, pledging to confront any Israeli violations.
Following the cabinet meeting, Minister of Information Ziad Makari assured that funds to recruit 1,500 additional soldiers are available and that the government encountered no issues regarding this allocation.
Nasser Yassin, the government’s Emergency Committee coordinator, announced that the cabinet approved fuel allocations for 541 shelters in mountainous regions over 300 meters in altitude to ensure winter heating. Yassin also detailed efforts concerning the people displaced as the result of the Israeli hostilities in Lebanon.
He highlighted that there are 44,000 families in 1,138 shelters and an additional 147,000 families housed within communities.