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THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON SYRIAN CHILDREN IN NW SYRIAA COMPREHENSIVE BREIFING BY HURRAS NETWORK

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CONTEXT

• ABOUT HURRAS NETWORK AND PARTICIPATING NGOS----------------------------3

• RECOMMENDATIONS------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5

• SUMMARY-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7

• INTRODUCTION--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10

• HEALTH---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------11

• PROTECTION -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------14

• EDUCATION--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------19

• CONCLUSION-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------24

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ABOUT HURRAS NETWORK

Hurras Network (HRS) is a leading non-governmental organisation protecting children inside Syria by ensuring vulnerable children are supported to live in a safe environment with safe access to education. HRS services include monitoring and documenting of violations, providing comprehensive case management, mainstream child protection in other sectors. While empowering local communities to understand children’s rights, implement essential protection measures and provide capacity building through a range of specialised training. HRS services also include protecting children against military recruitment, young labor, early marriage; and empowering the communities to provide equal opportunities for boys and girls.

HRS has succeeded in providing urgent protection services to more than 500,000 children in Syria since 2015.

PARTICIPATING NGOs

@HurrasNetwork

@Hurras_network

@Childprotectsyria

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RECOMENDATIONS

We encourage the International Community and International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) to acknowledge the overall feasibility underlying COVID-19 preventative measures due to outstanding complexities, concentrating on children and young people inside Syria. After the extensive interviews with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and children on the ground, we have constructed the following recommendations that we have deemed appropriate guidelines for essential assistance whereby we directly address thefollowing respective instrumental bodies:

TO PARTIES OF THE CONFLICT

• We call on all parties to adhere to the UN Secretary-General on the cease-fire, enabling NGOs to exceed chances of success in operating health systems in hospitals to fight the global pandemic.

TO THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION

• Support national NGOs with guidelines and support on how to overcome COVID-19.

• Support and protect healthcare workers through availing PPE and support skill substitution.

• Ensure sufficient funding and support through the health cluster to support health directorates and NGOs to build capacity, including the increase of

community isolation beds, inpatient beds, ventilators and testing kits.

• Ensure that Syrian CSOs including health CSOs, medical workers and child protection expertise, are around the table in any discussion around the response to COVID-19 inside Syria.

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TO DONORS

• Support national NGOs that have more connection with what’s happening on the ground.

• Increase emergency funding to support the mental health and wellbeing of Syrian children.

• Facilitate equitable and inclusive access to education for all vulnerable children and support the inclusion of children with disabilities.

• Support children who were previously recruited by armed groups and invest in livelihoods opportunities for vulnerable families to discourage child labour.

TO SYRIAN AND INTERNATIONAL NGOS

• Provide accurate information and evaluate the progression of the crisis needs across Syria.

• Make formal continuing education for children in emergency meetings are removed during and post COVID-19 phase.

• Work directly with local NGOs in NW Syria to build their capacity and improve accountability for the safety of children.

• Key information should be available across NW Syria in a format that is understandable and accessible for all children.

• Incorporate hygiene practices and teachings in formal education syllabuses.

• Prioritise primary and secondary education to provide protection for children at risk of recruitment, abuse and child labour.

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SUMMARY

The contamination rate in the global spread COVID-19 pandemic is advancing at an alarming rate with each day, bringing the tallies up to an unimaginable total of recorded cases of infection. As of 29th June, the estimated number of new victims of the epidemic has infected more than 10 million people around the world and killed at least 504,751 - the virus is still having devastating effects on a global scale. However, advocating for a response through the appropriate preventative measures has so far proven to be challenging, even for countries whose systemssustain the richest of global economies, high-level health systems, and who are considered as advanced in delivering protection for children. Countries that are affected by humanitarian crises and perpetual internal conflict need an alternate well-thought-out strategy to protect childt ot the highest standards as a result of these outstanding complex challenges.

The humanitarian crisis in Syria is at a breaking point, it having been almost ten years since the start of the conflict in Syria, and humanitarian needs are ever-growing. NGOs inside Syria and in neighbouring countries share theconsensus of fear of how fatal the pandemic could be in the context of Syria and the impact it is already having on children’s lives. The ever-growing influx ofinternally displaced people in NW Syria is putting a significant strain on theresources of local populations who are already struggling with shortages, and supplies are continuing to diminish. The ongoing pandemic is consequently resulting in negative repercussions on wellbeing and safeguarding of children and a fatal strain on multiple functioning health systems and living conditions. HRS, alongside many NGOs inside Syria, has been inundation with requests for humanitarian assistance on behalf of children and their families.

Organisations were profoundly concerned with hospitals and clinics already stressed by years of conflict; the fatality rate is likely higher than that inbetter-equipped countries. Many doctors have been forced to flee the country, leaving the few functioning hospitals understaffed and struggling to care for a large number of people in need of medical assistance. As of 19th June, approximately 5,833 COVID-19 tests have been performed in laboratories inDamascus, Aleppo, Homs and Latakia governorates. The Ministry of Health to date have confirmed 178 laboratory-confirmed cases, including 7 fatalities and 78 recovered cases.1

1 Reliefweb.int.2020.SYRIANARABREPUBLICCOVID-19ResponseUpdateNo.06.[online]Availableat:<https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/covid-19_update_no.6.pdf>.

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To date, no cases of COVID-19 have been identified in NW Syria among thecivilian population, but NGOs continue to prepare for the worst-case scenario. Syria is in a uniquely vulnerable position to the pandemic. NGOs have responded immediately despite little to no funding. Populations of concern: All groups are susceptible to the virus. However, vulnerable refugee and IDP populations and healthcare workers with inadequate PPE are, particularly at risk. To contest the threat and its potential effects on Syrian children, we require the full cooperation of UN agencies, donors and international non-governmental organisations.

Inside Syria, it’s clear that coronavirus has already inflicted devastatingconsequenceson vulnerable children in NW Syria. NGOs working on the ground express their concern regarding children, already impacted by the violence, displacement, lack of access to vital services and now a global pandemic.The psychological impact that children have been suffering has been recorded by several organisations. As schools are shut for precautionary measures, not only has this affected hundreds of thousands of children’s ability to learn, but it has decreased the ability of these organisations to protect children from domestic violence and sexual exploitation.

Supporting children in the context of COVID-19 is part of how HRS is meeting its commitment to place children and young people at the centre of its work, focusing on their empowerment, and amplifying their voices from local to global level. HRS will continually seek children’s and young people’s perspectives in order to understand their realities. The following has been composed following comprehensive interviews with children and Syrian NGOs working in the field.

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INTRODUCTION

Syrian children have been severly impacted by the bloodshed, constantdisplacement and lack of access to vital services. After nine years of the conflict, children continue to pay the most substantial price, as now 51% trapped in NW Syria are children with a global pandemic as their biggest threat.1 As significant humanitarian needs remain across all sectors, children continue to be the biggest victim of the never-ending crisis in Syria.

Although there have been no laboratory confirmed COVID-19 cases in NW Syria yet,2 due to the pressures of COVID-19 there have been increased reports of gender-based protection issues, health concerns and lack of education.

NGOs on the ground have undertaken the vital tasks of raising awareness and identifying key measures to mitigate against a disastrous outbreak, withpreparation for an effective response in the event of the worst case scenario, it is clear that the bifurcation of children’s needs have increased.

We hope that the outcome of this report will prove useful to other child-rightsfocused organisations as we pursue an understanding of how children can be supported, equipped, and encouraged whilst illustrating to donors and international NGOs the importance of investing in the future ofchildren.

1 Reliefweb.int.2020.SYRIANARABREPUBLICRecentDevelopmentsInNorthwestSyria.[online]Availableat:<https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/nws_si-trep8_20200213.pdf>2 Reliefweb.int.2020.SYRIANARABREPUBLICCOVID-19ResponseUpdateNo.06.[online]Availableat:<https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/covid-19_update_no.6.pdf>

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HEALTH

The pandemic is yet another threat to an already calamitous and overburdened health system: the crisis in Syria has adumbrated that the healthcare systems are dependent upon astronomical levels of support to enhance their capacity tosupport a potential outbreak of COVID-19. As of April 2020, 306 health facilities remain functional out of 568 health facilities1 in NW Syria with a lack of trained staff, medical equipment and ventilators, which is insufficient for the needs of the population. Idlib Health Directorate mentioned there was a “High possibility for a pandemic outbreak to spread if it isn’t here already.” 2

Access to health and adequate sanitation in the context of continuous displacement remains limited. This is stressed by Fadi Al-Dairi from Hand in Hand for Aid and Development (HIHFAD): “For us, our focus is the provision of health services for children with no COVID-19 issues as once we start admitting patients with COVID-19, we won’t be able to take the risk and see other patients. Allpatients are being screened before being allowed into our health facilities and no visitors are allowed inside the facilities, and children are only accompanied by one adult”.

1 2020. COVID-19 PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE PLAN FOR NORTHWEST SYRIA (NWS). World Health Organization.2 Hill,E.andAl-Hlou,Y.,2020.‘WashOurHands?SomePeopleCan’TWashTheirKidsForAWeek.’.[online]Nytimes.com.Availableat:<https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/world/middleeast/syria-coronavirus-idlib-tents.html>

“ I hope to help my community, to be

positive, especially because this pandemic

threatens the lives of sick people.”

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Humanitarian actors are operating in response planning to ensure effectiveprevention and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Daher Zedan from Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM) elucidated the struggle in NW Syria: “WHO cross border operation in NW Syria was poor, with only 300 test kits provided and not arriving until early May for a population over 4 million civilians. Alongside this, in Idlib, there are only 600 doctors, roughly 90 ventilators and 100 ICU beds. WHO created a response plan at 33 million dollars in northern Syria, but until now, funds haven’t been distributed.” The limited resources and necessary infrastructure in NW Syria are incredibly vulnerable. Zedan continued to explain the direct impact that COVID-19 has created onchildren: “We work a lot with vulnerable children. Children with autism, Down syndrome, and mental disability. These children already suffer from lowimmune systems, to be honest during phase one we were scared and took our precautions by stopping support sessions and having them online. Through our online sessions, we focused on supporting not only children with special or physiotherapy needs but also children’s mental health and supporting their families. These sessions were put into place to protect children during COVID-19 right from the start. As we support children with mental health issues, there were a lot of changes, for example, some of the families don’t know how to deal with the their children during lockdown. So we began doing facebook lives with a psychiatrist so that families that are struggling with their kids can ask us how they can support their children. Children with special needs that have been receiving our support from over past 1-3 years has meant the progress or children has not only decreased but gone back as we had to stop sessions immediately. We’ve had to allow psychologists and caregivers to spend a lot of time with a child online so that they can get used to the new norm. The list of negative impacts on children is endless.”

There is a need an need to mobilise efforts andresources to avert a catastrophic impact in NW Syria. Mental health and psychosocial support should be given due consideration amongst all emergency plans involved in the COVID-19 response. Children with mental health, psychosocial and physical disabilities needuninterrupted access to their care workers and vitalsupport during lockdown measures. Coordination systems are critical as part of response strategies, especially for children - provision of hope, safety, empathy. At the same time, local actors need to be supported with both accurate knowledge and facts aboutCOVID-19 to lower children’s anxiety levels.

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Dr. Zaher Sahloul from MedGlobal explained “In Idlib the fact that there are limited resources and preventative measures has limited the access to proper mental health programs and nutrition. Everyone is worried about exposure, the shortage of PPE is a major concern.” Innovative measures need to be put in place to ensure children understand the vital need to limit human-to-human transmission. NW Syria illustrates a large number of obstacles, such as lack of testing and the difficulty of self-isolation. Social distancing is a demanding task when there is a population of 4 million people in NW Syria, and that there are 2.7 million IDPs, 1who are estimated to be in need of and around one quarter live in camps or tented settlements.

1 2020. COVID-19 PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE PLAN FOR NORTHWEST SYRIA (NWS). World Health Organization.

I became more aware and increased my knowledge about the danger of Co-rona Virus.I have adhered more to the rules of hygiene and talk about it with my friends.

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Exposure to violence, on-going displacement and poverty has defined countless children’s lives in Syria. Violations include the killing of children, child labour,detention of children, abduction and sexual violence against children and early marriages. The possibility of COVID-19 reaching NW Syria has had a pervasiveimpact on the lives of over a million children already. Although the UN Secretary General has called for a ceasefire during COVID-19 children in Syria are still dropping out of schools to engage in child labour or for marriage. They reflect the increase in harmful coping practices by families that are worried about the outcome of COVID-19.

Since lockdown was announced in NW Syria, hundreds of thousands of children and parents are confused, as they continue to live in sorrow and anxiety. The closure of schools has meant that hundreds of thousands of children that usually have a safe space during the day are worried and alone with their thoughts. NGOs on the ground have reported that isolation has further put children at increased risk of violence and other forms of abuse. It’s vital to note that some of the most vulnerable children, including those who have experienced abuse, violence orneglect are often the hardest to identify. Al-Najem CEO of Hurras: “If the outbreak occurs in Syria our biggest worry is separated and unaccompaniedchildren.” We need to ensure that effective support is available for all children who need it now and as restrictions lift. Sumeyee Alismail from Takfaul stressed her worries: “Biggest fears are our staff might violate the code of conduct and not deal with children in the correct manner, so we ensure our staff are trained accordingly. It’s vital when working in child protection that come out changing a child’s life for the better.”

War and the uncertainty of COVID-19 have left many children in a state of stress of the unknown. If untreated, childhood trauma can have long-lasting effects. Trauma can affect children’s mood and their ability to regulate their emotions; they are two times more likely to develop depression and three times more likely to develop anxiety.

PROTECTION

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The lack of information children are being given has contributed to a vicious cycle of mental health within children. Some children can’t grasp the severity of the issue. Al-Najem emphasises the importance of keeping children safe: “Working to keep children safe is vital. We work with communities to keep children safe as we continue to work with child protection committees. We train them on proper response on COVID-19, alongside supporting communities with volunteers to support the local initiatives like remote education and other child protection-related services. We have designed an assessment tool to help us absorb the trends of violence in the community. The purpose of this is to take these concerns and include them in our activities of mainstreaming and helplines.” At HRS we continue to seek ways of spreading awareness to children in a lighthearted matter. We’ve taken on activities alongside regular awarenesssessions, in the form of board games and murals. The game was devoted to children and adolescents, as part of the response activities to the Coronavirus, anddistributed with hygiene kits. The game contains the most important wrong behaviours that lead to infection, in addition to positive behaviours that protect from infection and help children and their parents to protect from the virus. Whilst the mural was designed as a fun way to raise awareness in a lighter manner, that could also be a daily reminder for children.

I try my best to social distance but its

really hard, living here in a camp. Our

tents are all close together.

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Humanitarian actors have had no choice but to stop or minimise certain activities that could not be adapted in an effort to keep children safe. For instance, only a small percentage of civilians in NW Syria have access to the internet.

Al-Najem continued: “I was surprised and amazed at how nurses in hospitals and other service providers inside Syria, when they were trained on child protection could refer the most vulnerable children to our case management services. We have to understand that we don’t have to do everything ourselves, we should rely on communities, especially during such times.” Although measures have been announced by the local councils by stopping all public gatherings, there still seems to be misinformation and lack of awareness. Al- Dairi explained that: “As we have limited resources to meet any epidemic, we always ask for reduced movement and reduction in mass gatherings. Despite many efforts to raise awareness amongst communities, we still see events taking place like attending football matches and prayers; we call for such events to be held with extreme measures to avoid the worst from happening.” When children witness adults in their community not isolating, it becomes harder for them to understand why they have to be isolated and take social distancing seriously.

Since the spread of the Coronavirus in

the world, I ask my parents about

updates of the news. I’m really worried.

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While HRS have taken certain measures to increase awareness of the virus for children, there are outstanding challenges. Burhan Bayazid from Ataa outlines this as he highlights that “We are trying to find solutions, it's particularly difficult as children are just so young, their awareness is limited and it's hard to explain the important rituals like not touching your face or washing your hands for 30 seconds.” Bayazid continued to elaborate “Children have already suffered from war, school is their only protection that they may not even find at home.Covid-19 has really affected the protection of children in Syria.”

HRS was determined to find ways such as promoting creative information leaflets that children would want to look at. According to a HRS officer “Of course, kids are fed up with Corona, but information is vital to reduce anxiety towards the virus, and increase their knowledge.”

HRS continue finding creative and fun ways to spread awarness for children.

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Almost 239,000 children and adults had access to structured, and sustained child protection, psychosocial support, and positive parenting services in NW Syria. 1But as COVID-19 began to spread on a global scale, so did misinformation in NW Syria. NGOs on the ground took on the task of spreading awareness in the areas they work in with the vital correct information on the virus and how to protect yourself from it. Knowing the facts is key to being adequately prepared and protecting yourself. Misinformation during a health crisis will continue to leave children unprotected, and vulnerable not only to the disease but also to fear and anxiety.

The full impact of the Syria crisis on children may only become apparent in the years to come. The psychological distress suffered by many children will likely have profound and long-lasting implications.

ew

HRS awareness campaign for children.

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In Syria, children were already encountering constant challenges to stay in school. These challenges were heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the complete closure of schools and disrupted children’s access to not only education but also to a safe space. Education supports immediate benefits, e.g. stability, structure, routine and protection from violence and exploitation. It also secures long-term benefits, enabling children to build a better future for themselves and their families. Al-Najem stressed: “As we look now into social distancing, we can see that the access to education is one of our concerns, children have already lost an academic year due to forced displacement.”

EDUCATION

We’ve always known nothing but fear. We are scared that now there is just another way that our parents might die.”

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In a context like Syria, children’s safety and wellbeing is at the core of HRS education response. Children’s wellbeing also improves as school work restores a sense of stability in their lives and they learn better ways of coping with their situations. HRS coordinator explained: “We have children that were displaced in November 2019, they left their schools and homes. The lucky ones got a tent in a camp, a lot of children were left with the families on the streets. NW Syria became overpopulated. The school stopped then. Each school had 500 students with 15 teachers at a teaching point in each camp. There wasn’t schooling but there was a form of education. But now with Corona precautions it has meant that students can’t meet up in large groups. The situation developed that lockdown was put in place and like all other children in the world education would continue from home. But in Syria there aren’t any online classes. The internet system is weak, some students were able to join our self-learning programme via WhatsApp. Teachers during this phase became mentors and just checked up on students to see if they’re completing their work. This allows young children to keep a routine.” Routine is vital particularly for younger children below the age of 8 years old, where contact and response and consistent care is significant to them.

Al-Najem explained the importance of routine for children: “HRS managed to contact a large number of students in the morning to ensure the start of aroutine and if they have internet they are able to have sessions with teachers and psychosocial sessions. No matter what HRS ensured the mostvulnerable still had their sessions with facilitators and teachers. As childprotection actors we are trying to build alternative routines during the day to ensure they’re more resilient. Through our response we have provided education online, by designing kits with different activities and we distributed them to their homes and we catch up with them online. For example at 8am we share maths exercises and at 7pm we share physical exercises. We ensure there is minimal homework so parents don’t stress a lot.”

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Bayazid from Ataa also explained their amendments to their programmes: “Many mechanisms have changed, we cancelled all face-to-face education and are now working on distance learning, distributing information leaflets. Budgets have changed to cover platform costs and cover the cost of leaflets. We are also providing schools with cleaning products like sanitizers in case schools reopen. They were deprived of their simple right which was socializing in schools with their friends and their safe space in school that is even difficult to obtain in their own homes”

Alismail spoke about the impact of COVID-19 on their educationprogrammes: “Schools were closed and started implementing distance learning strategies with children using Zoom, having private teachers to keep track of their work even though we faced some challenges doing so, we also use Whatsapp for a larger number of people.”

Overcoming the challenges the brave teachers still working in these areas have found ways to keep educating children despite the dangers, including home schooling and reduced school hours. While the world is on lockdown teachers across NW Syria are finding creative ways to keep educating their students. They are teaching over WhatsApp, setting up virtual classrooms for students as they learn from their tent or home. One in five teachers in NW Syria are working without salaries, but they are doing everything they can to bring much-needed normalityto their students.

However not all children are so lucky. Most children don’t have access to theinternet. NGOs on the ground require focused funds to improve and implement education during emergencies.

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“I I hope I will complete my studies so I can achieve my dreams.”

HRS Social Distance Education Pack.

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Ultimately education has been translated into high rates of child labour during the lock-down. Children who are sadly separated from their families are especially vulnerable.

While NGOs are busy attempting to stop a global pandemic from spreading inside NW Syria by coming together, mobilising resources and following lock-down measures, it’s key to remember the importance of the No Lost Generation initiative. As a whole generation of children is at risk of losing hope, faith and ambition, it’s critical now more than ever that all actors work towards longer-term approaches within education.

This requires the strengthening of national education systems and a strong focus on quality education. In addition, the school systems must adhere to child protection protocols and standards. Education is critical.

“I am not able to study and follow up with my school because it does not provide distance learning or the internet”

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CONCLUSION

As the virus continues to spread across the world, children in NW Syria are facing multiple new stresses, including physical and psychological health risks, school closures, family confinement, isolation and economic vulnerability. The strict measures taken to delay the spread of Coronavirus pose unprecedented challenges for child welfare and protection. Safeguarding and child protection in Syria are as vital now as they ever have been and more. But with schools closed and social distancing measures in place across Syria, it’s clear that NGOs working on the ground are struggling to reach all vulnerable children with limited funding, limited resources, and minimal support from international actors.

As NGOs inside Syria it’s our responsibility and duty to prevent suffering, save lives and protect the health of every child but we need your support. We ask you to share these recommendations with your local government and decision makers as a call to action. We ask donors and international organisations to understand the urgency of child protection within Syria during COVID-19 and to support NGOs on the ground.