Within the Syria crisis region, which spans the whole of Syria, Türkiye, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt, there have been a total of 252,204 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of June 30, 2020. The highest number of confirmed cases came from Türkiye (199,906), followed by Egypt (68,311), Iraq (49,109), and Jordan (1,132). Only 279 cases were reported in Syria. By June, UNFPA country offices throughout the region had already readjusted their programmes and work plans, putting short and long-term measures in place to ensure continuity of operations despite expected challenges.

As of 09 June, 2020, the Syrian Ministry of Health (MoH) has reported 144 COVID-19 cases across Syria: 76 active, 62 recoveries and 6 registered deaths.1 The first positive case was announced on 22 March 2020, with the first fatality reported on 29 March 2020.

As of 8 May 2020, Syria reported a total of 47 confirmed COVID-19 cases: 15 active, 29 recovered and 3 registered deaths.

Since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Syria on March 23rd, the Government of Syria has introduced measures amid fears of a spike of the novel coronavirus. Movement restrictions between governorates, as well as a countrywide curfew from 19:30 until 06:00 are still in place in effort to minimize the risks of COVID-19 infections.

UNFPA and its partners are scaling up efforts to empower and improve the lives of Syrian women, youth and impacted communities inside Syria and in host countries, including by advocating for human rights and gender equality to better equip individuals and communities to cope with the far-reaching ramifications of this protracted crisis. These efforts continue in 2020 as communities withstand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has presented an array of unprecedented challenges, including consistently changing priorities and severe restrictions on movement.

Those at risk and in need of immediate humanitarian assistance also include: pregnant and lactating women, widows, children, people with disabilities, the elderly and those whose coping mechanism are drastically diminished. The effects of self-isolation and quarantine, lockdown and movement restrictions have created a new wave of GBV risks and significant limitations in availability and access to protection services, including, but not limited to, case management and psychosocial support.

In Syria, people affected by humanitarian crises, particularly those displaced and/or living in camps and camp-like settings, are faced with challenges accessing health services that were otherwise available before the COVID-19 outbreak. The most affected and at-risk population groups due to COVID-19 and their vulnerabilities include women and girls.