Lockdown has not changed lifestyle in Derik, northeastern Syria

Derik – North-Press Agency

Solnar Muhammad

Villages in the Derik countryside, northeastern Syria, are witnessing non-compliance with the lockdown decision announced by the Autonomous Administration last week, to combat the outbreak of coronavirus, amid some residents’ call for their relatives to take the matter seriously.

The lockdown decision did not change aspects of the ordinary life of the population much, which some see as a risk to the health of their children. Youth meetings are held every evening, and visits among families continue, not to mention children gathering and playing.

In an interview with North-Press, Hashem Ali, a resident of Qasr al-Deeb village in Derik countryside, said that “The Internal Security Forces (Asayish) did not conduct patrols to monitor the implementation of the curfew decision in the village…no one in the village abides by the curfew 100%.”

He pointed out that, “the villagers do not take the epidemic seriously, and they make fun of me because I wear a mask. They say I am afraid, but I wear it because of my safety and the safety of the society.”

Helwa Shawish, a woman from the same village, said that people do not abide by the quarantine, especially children and men, saying: “Everyone should abide by the lockdown. Rather, it is necessary to extend it for another month in order to prevent [the spread of the virus] and protect the health of my children.”

Residents noted that the youths of the village exchange visits, almost as usual, despite fears of the spread of the epidemic, especially with the increase in the number of deaths around the world. The only measure that they committed to is that “they go to the city only when they need to buy their needs.”

Villages and rural areas in northeastern Syria in general have less commitment to the lockdown than in the cities and towns.

The Internal Security Forces (Asayish) refused to comment on an inquiry from North-Press about the reason for the lack of patrols in Qasr al-Deeb village and the neighboring villages.