Syrian refugees in Turkey brace for second wave of coronavirus outbreak
ISTANBUL, Turkey (North Press) – Warnings of a second wave of coronavirus in Turkey has led Syrian refugees to worry about their living situation and future.
Syrian refugees in Turkey suffer from lack of employment opportunities and low salaries, in addition to the fear of future outbreaks.
On Wednesday, Turkish Health Minister Fakhruddin Khwja said that Turkey has experienced the second wave of the coronavirus outbreak.
He pointed out that this was caused by negligence during the holidays and weddings.
The Turkish Hurriyet newspaper reported on Monday that the Turkish government is preparing a new two-month plan of infection prevention measures, starting this month, to counter an expected second wave in October.
The biggest concern for Syrian refugees is the lockdown, which has cause many of them to lose their jobs.
Qais al-Hassan, a human rights activist based in Istanbul, told North Press that this new wave of coronavirus will be worse than the previous one.
He added that there would be a compulsory curfew, the length of which would be according to the effects of the wave, and that Syrian refugees in Istanbul would be the most affected.
“This is because all Istanbul residents were directly affected by the first wave’s rebounds, and according to warnings, many Syrian day laborers would lose job opportunities and this would lead to big economic consequences,” al-Hassan said.
After declaring Turkey’s entry into the second phase of the coronavirus outbreak, authorities started to alert its security forces and health staff.
It has also launched massive inspection campaigns across Turkish cities, particularly major cities such as Istanbul and Gaziantep, and against anyone who violates the health measures announced by the Ministry of Health.
Abdelmoneim al-Abd, a Syrian refugee who lives in Gaziantep city, told North Press that Syrians are currently living in the worst conditions.
Al-Abd, who is also an activist in the humanitarian field, pointed out that if the issue developed, it would be the biggest disaster for Syrian refugees, especially daily and weekly workers.
The number of coronavirus infections in Turkey has reached 276,555, including 6,564 deaths and 249,108 recovered cases.
(Reporting by Mohammed Khier Ahmed)