ECR's update on the Coronavirus situation in Rojava

As many countries around the world are struggling to contain the spread of the coronavirus and provide treatment to those infected by it, the Autonomous Administration of Northern and Eastern Syria (AANES), commonly known as Rojava, is potentially facing a healthcare catastrophe.

The region has already started undertaking measures to prevent the spread of the virus within its borders by closing schools and universities, banning social gatherings, and restricting its few border crossings. As of March 23, Rojava will be placed under a full lockdown. However, there is still no testing in the region. Despite the administration’s effort to obtain tests for the virus, its request has been denied by WHO on the grounds that AANES is not a state and hence cannot be dealt with directly. The administration has no option but to send test cases to Damascus, which is under the control of the Syrian government. Transportation takes much time, and there is no way to ensure the quality of the procedure.

Read the full update here.