Urgent Call of International and Local Organizations and Institutions in North and Eastern Syria

2020-04-02
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus,
World Health Organization Director-General

Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari,
World Health Organization Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean

Mr. Dainius Pūras,
Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health,

Dears Dr. Ghebreyesus, Dr. Al-Mandhari, and Mr. Pūras

We, the 121 undersigned local and international organizations and institutions working in north and eastern Syria (NES) are following with deep concern the prevalence of Coronavirus COVID-19 world-wide and in countries neighboring Syria recently. NES which is partially besieged and already suffers severe shortage of medical services, supplies and personnel and the suspension of humanitarian aid provided across the borders, faces the new threat of the coronavirus COVID-19 with many local and international organizations declaring their failure to contain the virus.

NES hosts more than 4.000.000 citizens, including more than 1.000.000 IDPs, in need for service, medical and health aid. More than 100.000 of the IDPs live in 11 camps and thousands of the ISIS foreign fighters’ families live in very bad humanitarian conditions in AL-Howl Camp.

Authorities and humanitarian organization have sounded the alarm, especially as COVID-19 detecting laboratory tests are available only in Damascus which requires the autonomous administration to surrender to its authority; and Ras Al-Eyn which is controlled by Turkey-backed factions that recently attempted to cut off the water lines serving the cities of (Al Hassakah, Tal Tamer, Al Howl, and Al-Arisha), which increases the risks of infection as United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) stated. 

Reports by international organizations and UN agencies working in NES refer to severe shortage of laboratory equipment required for virus-detection tests, and medical equipment and supplies According to the International Rescue Committee, total number of beds available in the intensive care units of all the hospitals is 28, and only 2 doctors are trained on how to use the ventilators, which will result in a humanitarian catastrophe if the virus widely spread under the current conditions.

We, local and international civil society organizations working in North and Eastern Syria declare our solidarity with all international bodies working to limit the prevalence of Coronavirus, and call the World Health Organization and all concerned international organizations to:

Achieve quick response and provide local organizations and entities with the support necessary for Corona Covid-19 prevention.
Provide COVID-19-detecting devices.
Set up proper quarantine facilities.
Provide the hospitals in the autonomous administration area with the required equipment, including the intensive care unit’s equipment. 
Provide medical teams to help and train the medical staff in those hospitals.
Provide personal protective equipment for health sector workers.
Kind regards,

The Undersigned (listed in alphabetical order)

Adel center for human Rights
AFRIN Post – Media Network
Al-Furat Relief and Development Organization
Al-Baghooz hope Organization
Al-Hassakah Organization for Relief and Development
ARAS Charity Association
Ashti Centre for Peacebuilding
ASO Center for Consultancy and Strategic Studies
ASO News Network
ATAA Bagoz Organization
ATAA for Development Organization
AZORA AL-FORAT Organization
Bahar Organization
Basmet Amll for Development
Better Life Association
Board of Education in NES
Bridges of Love for Development
Civil society Organizations
Dan for Relief and Development
Dernaa for development
Doctors Union of Al-Jazeera Region
DOZ International
Drivers Union in NES
Education Organization
Electrical Engineers Union in Manbaj
Engineer syndicate in NES
Engineering For Service Organization
Ensaf for Development
Eridu center for civil society and democracy
Ezdina Foundation
Federation of Chambers of Commerce in northern and eastern Syria
Federation of Contractors in Kobani
Free woman Stand in Syria
Future for Development Organization
Gav for relief and development
Gender Studies and Information Organization
General drivers’ union in Manbij
Goal humanitarian Organization
Hajen Technologists' Organization
Hevy for relief and development
Hitma Organization for cultural social development
HLOM-Development-Organization
hope Makers Organization
Hope Smile Organization
House of Citizenship
human rights organization in furat
Human Rights Organization in Syria - MAF
Humanitarian Hope team
Inaash Organization for Development
Injaz program
Inmaa Al-Furat Organization
Intellectuals Union in Al-Jazeera region
International Organization for the Care of War and Disaster Victims (IPV)
Jesmin Charity
JINAR for Aid and Development
Jiyan charity
Jomard Charity
Judy charity for development and relief
Justice and building center
Keskayi Organization
Khayr chararty
Khwtwa association for Relief and Development
Kobane Contractors Union
Kurdish Committee for Human Rights - Observer
Lawir organization for animal protection
Maat For Peace, Development and Human Rights Association
Mesopotamia for Development and Studies
Mitan Center to revive civil society
NABD Organization
Nawat organization
Neuro-Linguistic Programming
New horizons Organization
NGO Platform in NES
Organization human rights Afrin-Syria
Oxygen Shabab Movement
Ozone Organization
Peace She Leaders Network
PÊL- Civil Waves
PLATFORM Organization
Platform Syrische Kurdin in Nederland
Qanadil Al-Amal Association
Raja Association
Raqqa Workers Union
Rawabt Al-Amal Association for Development
ROJ KAR for Relief and Development
Rojava Relief and Development Organization
Rojavayê Kurdistan
SAM for Development Organization
Sanabel Al-Jazeera Organization
SANAD FOR PEACEBUILDING
Sara organization to combat violence against women
Shamal charity association
shams Al-Amal Organization
Shams for Rehabilitation and Development
Shan for Development and youth
Shar for Development
Silav Center for Civil Activities
SMART Center for Mental Health and Human Development
Swaaid for Development Organization
Swaedna Organization for relief and Development
Syrian Center for Studies and Dialogue
Syrian Kurd journalist’s union
Syrians for Truth and Justice-STJ
Taa Marbouta foundation
TARHAM for Development and Bidding Organization
Tayif Organization
Teachers union in Al-Jazeera Region
Teachers Union of Raqqa
The civil cooperation Team
The National Association for the Rehabilitation of Syrian Women
The Syrian youth alliance to activate security council resolution 2250 Syria
Together for Al-Jarniya
Totol Foundation for Relief and Development
Transportation Syndicate in Al-Tabqaa
Türkmen Derneği
Unaitad Farmars in A-Jazeera (U.F.G)
Union of Engineers in Manbij and its countryside
Union of pharmacists of Northern and Eastern Syrian
WAMDA FOR Development. Training & consulting
Weqaya Organization
Xunav Association



April 2, 2020