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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The World Health Organization (WHO) in Syria is defending their allocation plans for coronavirus vaccine doses in northeast Syria (Rojava or NES), after dozens of local civil society groups slammed the number as “disproportionately low.” The vaccine is expected to be distributed in May.
Akjemal Magtymova, head of WHO in Syria, told a number of news outlets, including Rudaw English, that Rojava will receive 90,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine as part of the 912,000 doses allocated to the country through the COVAX system. She added that 224,000 doses will be delivered to Turkish-held areas in northwest Syria through Turkish borders. Reuters cited her as saying 336,000 doses will be sent to northwest Syria.
Following the announcement, 126 civil society organizations in Rojava released a statement slamming the WHO for the “disproportionately low” number of doses dedicated to the Kurdish-held areas. They claimed that the population of northeast Syria is over five million people. WHO “does not seem to have considered the population distribution and administrative divisions,” they said.
The WHO office in Syria told Rudaw English via email late Tuesday that northeast Syria’s share of the doses is actually 136,000, not 90,000, adding that an additional 224,000 doses will be dedicated to northwest Syria.
“The vaccine doses for Syria were calculated based on the latest UN population estimates and equitable proportionate distribution across all regions,” it explained, adding that “the aim is to vaccinate 20 percent of the Syrian population before the end of December.”
“The Covax commitment for the first phase of vaccination which targets 3 percent of the population (mainly high risk groups- health workers, elderly with comorbidities) is 912,000 doses for areas under government administration and NES, and an additional 224,000 for NWS.”
The office denied that the Rojava population makes up five million, saying the UN estimates that the area’s population amounts to less than half that (2,485,275 or 15 percent). They assert that the entire Syrian population, without northwestern areas of the country, is currently 16,523,650 people.
“We believe in equitable vaccine distribution, based on transparency and fairness,” it said.
Magtymova told Rudaw English late Wednesday that due to changes in the total number of doses COVAX is providing to Syria, the amount in the share destined for the different parts of the country has changed. The jabs were supposed to arrive in April, but the WHO office is now saying that they “may” arrive in May.
Akjemal Magtymova, head of WHO in Syria, told a number of news outlets, including Rudaw English, that Rojava will receive 90,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine as part of the 912,000 doses allocated to the country through the COVAX system. She added that 224,000 doses will be delivered to Turkish-held areas in northwest Syria through Turkish borders. Reuters cited her as saying 336,000 doses will be sent to northwest Syria.
Following the announcement, 126 civil society organizations in Rojava released a statement slamming the WHO for the “disproportionately low” number of doses dedicated to the Kurdish-held areas. They claimed that the population of northeast Syria is over five million people. WHO “does not seem to have considered the population distribution and administrative divisions,” they said.
The WHO office in Syria told Rudaw English via email late Tuesday that northeast Syria’s share of the doses is actually 136,000, not 90,000, adding that an additional 224,000 doses will be dedicated to northwest Syria.
“The vaccine doses for Syria were calculated based on the latest UN population estimates and equitable proportionate distribution across all regions,” it explained, adding that “the aim is to vaccinate 20 percent of the Syrian population before the end of December.”
“The Covax commitment for the first phase of vaccination which targets 3 percent of the population (mainly high risk groups- health workers, elderly with comorbidities) is 912,000 doses for areas under government administration and NES, and an additional 224,000 for NWS.”
The office denied that the Rojava population makes up five million, saying the UN estimates that the area’s population amounts to less than half that (2,485,275 or 15 percent). They assert that the entire Syrian population, without northwestern areas of the country, is currently 16,523,650 people.
“We believe in equitable vaccine distribution, based on transparency and fairness,” it said.
Magtymova told Rudaw English late Wednesday that due to changes in the total number of doses COVAX is providing to Syria, the amount in the share destined for the different parts of the country has changed. The jabs were supposed to arrive in April, but the WHO office is now saying that they “may” arrive in May.
The local organizations in the statement also expressed their fear that the Syrian regime will use the vaccines as political leverage.
Asked about this, the WHO office said that, “traditionally, the vaccine is regularly distributed to the NES from the central [Syrian Ministry of Health] MOH stores; WHO moderates the air transport of the supplies from the central stores to Qamishli city stores.”
“We are dealing with many unknowns: for example, the security situation on the ground affects directly our humanitarian operations in NES including implementing the vaccination activities. However, we will spare no effort to reach all people in need and ensure vaccine distribution in NES as well as other areas of the country. WHO works based on its principles of neutrality, impartiality, humanity and independence.”
Security in Rojava is controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). It is home to hundreds of thousands Internally Displaced People (IDPs) and refugees.
The WHO office also said that “in the second phase [the] remaining 17 percent (elderly, people with co-morbidities and other essential workers) will be targeted, subject to availability of vaccines.”
Vaccinations in Rojava will take place in 17 fixed facilities - hospitals and Primary Health Care (PHC) centers - and 105 mobile teams, according to WHO. “Formal and informal settlements will be targeted in the same way. Microplanning will also cover the populations of camps across northeast Syria.”
There has been a spike in the number of coronavirus cases in Syria in the last five weeks, according to the organization, adding that data indicates that a second wave is taking hold in the area.
Rojava’s health board recorded 161 new cases of coronavirus, as well as three deaths on Wednesday, adding that the total number of the cases is 10,059, including 378 deaths.
The Syrian government’s health ministry also recorded 137 new cases of the virus as well as seven deaths on Wednesday. This brings the total number of the cases in regime-held areas to 18,775, including 1,254 deaths.
According to WHO figures, shared with Rudaw English late Tuesday, northwest Syria has recorded 21,289 cases of the virus so far, including 637 deaths.
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