Istanbul – North-Press Agency
A clear contradiction exists in Turkey's handling of the coronavirus crisis in northern Syria compared to what it deals with within its territories and in other countries.
While voices are rising inside northern Syria, demanding Turkey provide northern Syria with masks, gloves, and other supplies to prevent the coronavirus, its planes fly to Israel and other European countries to provide them with such materials.
Failing organizations
Field activist Abu Omar al-Halabi, from the town of Azaz, northern Aleppo, who travels in more than one area in northern Syria, told North-Press: "The relief organizations are very poor in this matter, especially because the region is suffering from a severe shortage of medical supplies for coronavirus, compared to Turkish aid that is sent to other countries."
Some residents of northern Syria complained of Turkey's failure to help them combat this pandemic, and to provide them with masks and other medical supplies to prevent coronavirus.
Although those voices have reached Turkey, nothing has changed, even though Turkish relief organizations such as the Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) warned of a humanitarian catastrophe if an outbreak of coronavirus epidemic in the northern Syria were to occur, especially in the camps, because the region is suffering from a deterioration in health conditions.
Even though the IHH claimed that it distributed masks manufactured by its sewing workshops to Syrians for free, in addition to distributing sterilizers and cleaning supplies such as soap, cologne, and shampoo in the camps, this was denied by activists and local sources, including Abu Omar al-Halabi.
The camps are the most affected
The relief activist Mukhtar al-Idlibi, who works in northern Syria, told North-Press that the camps are the most vulnerable area for the rapid spread of the virus due to the poor provision of humanitarian services, especially water, in addition to poor hygiene and sanitation networks.
Al-Idlibi added, "There are unfortunately incomplete awareness campaigns (referring to the campaigns launched by Turkish organizations in northern Syria last March), and it is not acceptable to distribute brochures without attaching masks or gloves to prevent the virus."
Alarm
At a time when Turkey is sounding the alarm of the outbreak of coronavirus in northern Syria in general, it only allows its affiliated organizations to work there, something that Doctors Without Borders (MSF) complained about.
North-Press obtained a copy of an MSF statement which said that Turkey did not allow it to access Syria.
MSF also said in its statement: "Over the past months and years, MSF has repeatedly highlighted the critical situation in northwestern Syria, as well as the restrictions that we and other medical actors face in our efforts to adequately respond to needs and provide appropriate treatment to patients."
It continued: "Today, we face many difficulties in getting supplies and human resources to northwestern Syria, and this greatly impedes our ability to increase our response. We are coordinating with other actors on the ground, but many of them face similar challenges; however, in the implementation of our activities, we are constantly being assured of the urgent need for medical assistance, especially in light of this pandemic."
The statement added that “We are all working as much as possible, with all our means, in light of the context to which we must adapt, but the inability to increase the volume of our activities in Idlib and provide more assistance in the face of this emergency health situation is a source of daily concern, and could have disastrous consequences. Therefore, we renew our calls to the relevant Turkish authorities to facilitate the urgent transit of essential supplies and personnel to northwestern Syria to allow the expansion of our humanitarian and medical response in the region.”
However, these calls fell on deaf ears. On the contrary, Turkey is trying to pressure the international community to provide assistance to about four million Syrians in the Idlib region, and a similar number in Aleppo and its countryside, something that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu indicated.
The Turkish minister called on the international community to move quickly to confront the virus in Idlib governorate, which suffers from a shortage of medical equipment needed to cope with the disease, saying: “The international community must move quickly to face the aggravation of the situation in Idlib due to coronavirus,” according to official Turkish media.
Coronavirus, in the event of its outbreak throughout northern Syria, raises several questions about the Turkish position, especially since its soldiers and organizations are present in the region. Will it work to withdraw them or not? What are the consequences of this, in the event of this withdrawal? What are the attitudes of the civilians and Turkish-backed groups at this time?
For fear of spread
Regarding this, journalist and political analyst Majid al-Khatib, who is from Aleppo governorate and resides in France, told North-Press that “not only the organizations working in the humanitarian affairs fear the spread of coronavirus in the north, but the Turkish government fears it as well. Its soldiers who are in the Syrian territories will be infected with this epidemic for many reasons, including the fact that Syria does not have medical devices that reveal the presence of the virus, nor any equipment or hospitals dedicated to treating those infected with this virus.
The second matter, according to al-Khatib, relates to the Turkish government's fear of deaths of its soldiers or officers, “as this will increase the congestion of the Turkish interior, which is already suffering because of Erdogan's false policies in dealing with the Syrian issue and his investment in it in an immoral manner, even if it is on the heads of the Syrians and their suffering. In short, these organizations do not want coffins loaded with Turkish soldiers and covered with the red flag.”
The Turkish Ministry of Defense is trying to tighten the preventative measures for its soldiers in Turkish territory without addressing these measures that concern its soldiers in Syria’s north. Amid Turkey's evacuation of its citizens from a number of Arab and Western countries due to coronavirus, observers wonder about the possibility of taking this step and the withdrawal its soldiers from the north of Syria for fear of the epidemic if it broke out there.
Turkey's possibilities
In this regard, al-Khatib considered that “the matter is open to all possibilities, and Erdogan may decide to accelerate Idlib and hand over these areas to the Syrian regime through Russia, and thus withdraw his soldiers from the Syrian interior on the pretext of preserving the lives of Turkish soldiers, and that the life of any Turk is the priority, in addition to other populist and heroic speeches which Erdogan brilliantly masters.”
“The other possibility is that Erdogan will keep his soldiers in Syria, and the Turkish government will start bringing medical equipment and devices to the places where those forces are, and the medical teams will begin to try to contain this epidemic. In my estimation, this matter will be subject to the principle of understandings between the Turks and the Russians,” he added.
Since the spark of the complaints started from the popular incubator of Turkey in the north of Syria from the gate of supporting aid against coronavirus, it is possible that if Turkey decided to withdraw its soldiers, this would increase their congestion and change their view towards their Turkish ally. Meanwhile observers wonder about the stance of the opposition groups from all this turmoil, especially the issue of Turkey’s withdrawal of its forces in the event of the outbreak of coronavirus.
The armed groups’ state
Concerning this, al-Khatib said: “The armed opposition groups are mercenary and paid groups. Therefore, they do not make their own decisions and do not even dare to complain. On the contrary, we will see, in the event of the withdrawal, expressions of honor and gratitude for what Erdogan and his soldiers gave in Syria.”
Amid Turkish silence in regards to helping northern Syria with special materials to prevent coronavirus, some local authorities are trying to produce and manufacture masks that are far from the lowest required health specifications, but the large human reservoir in the Idlib region and throughout the north of Syria dooms any initiative to fail unless it is supported by large organizations and countries, which will ultimately be paid for by the displaced civilians living in the camps, which lack the most basic elements of life and health.