Displaced Syrians deprived of virus precautions

In the last opposition-held enclave in Syria's northwest, health officials are cobbling together what little they have to protect 4 million people crammed into a territory buckling under repeated government offensives. Promises by the World Health Organization to deliver ventilators, protection equipment and other supplies have mostly not materialized.

Damascus:Around half-a-million Syrians displaced in northern Idlib countryside are at risk in case of a coronavirus outbreak.

In a makeshift clinic inside the camp, patients are waiting for a check-up without protective measures.

Dr Gomma Khair, a general practitioner, said no virus cases have been recorded yet.

But in the event of an outbreak, the camp cannot treat patients, he added.

"One device for diagnosing the coronavirus was provided for the whole camp; we need more devices, respiratory systems in case we have some problems. We also need some medical equipment, masks, sterilization devices," said Khair.

In the last opposition-held enclave in Syria's northwest, health officials are cobbling together what little they have to protect 4 million people crammed into a territory buckling under repeated government offensives.

Promises by the World Health Organization to deliver ventilators, protection equipment and other supplies have mostly not materialized.

Hundreds of medical facilities have been bombed, mostly in government airstrikes.

Seventy per cent of the medical personnel have fled the country.

The virus causes mild to moderate flu-like symptoms in most patients who recover within a few weeks.

But it is highly contagious and can cause severe illness or death, particularly in older patients or those with underlying health problems.

(AP)