Douedari Yazan, Alhaffar Mervat, Al-Twaish Muhammed, Mkhallalati Hala, Alwany Raheb, Ibrahim Nafeesah Bte Mohamed, Zaseela Ayshath, Horanieh Nour, Abbara Aula, Howard Natasha
Syria Research Group (SyRG), co-hosted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, United Kingdom.
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Department of Global Health and Development, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9SH, United Kingdom.
J Migr Health. 2020;1-2:100021. doi: 10.1016/j.jmh.2020.100021.
Response to the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged even robust healthcare systems in high-income countries. Syria, a country experiencing protracted conflict, has the largest internally-displaced population globally with most displaced settlements in opposition-controlled areas governed by local and international NGOs. This study aimed to explore community perspectives on challenges and potential solutions to reduce COVID-19 transmission among displaced communities in opposition-controlled Northwest Syria.
We used a qualitative study design, conducting 20 interviews with displaced Syrians in opposition-controlled camps in Northwest Syria between April-May 2020 and ensuring over half our interviewees were women. We analysed data thematically.
Participants described already difficult camp conditions that would be detrimental to an effective COVID-19 response, including household crowding, inadequate sewerage and waste management, insufficient and poor-quality water, and lack of cleaning supplies. Participants most frequently mentioned internet as their COVID-19 information source, followed by NGO awareness campaigns. Men had access to more accurate and comprehensive COVID-19 information than women did. Isolating (shielding) high-risk people within households did not appear feasible, but participants suggested 'house-swapping' approaches might work. While most participants had sufficient knowledge about COVID-19, they lacked practical tools to prevent transmission.
This study is the first to explore perspectives and lived experiences of internally-displaced Syrians in the weeks prior to the COVID-19 epidemic in Northwest Syria. The challenging living conditions of internally-displaced people in Syria are further threatened by the spread of COVID-19. Tailored control measures are urgently needed to reduce COVID-19 transmission in camps.
应对新冠疫情对高收入国家甚至强大的医疗体系都构成了挑战。叙利亚正经历长期冲突，是全球国内流离失所人口最多的国家，大多数流离失所者聚居区位于由当地和国际非政府组织管理的反对派控制地区。本研究旨在探讨社区对于叙利亚西北部反对派控制地区流离失所社区减少新冠病毒传播的挑战及潜在解决方案的看法。
我们采用定性研究设计，于2020年4月至5月期间，对叙利亚西北部反对派控制营地中的流离失所叙利亚人进行了20次访谈，并确保超过半数的受访者为女性。我们对数据进行了主题分析。
参与者描述了本就艰难的营地条件，这对有效应对新冠疫情不利，包括家庭拥挤、污水处理和废物管理不足、水供应不足且质量差，以及清洁用品短缺。参与者最常提到互联网是他们获取新冠疫情信息的来源，其次是非政府组织的宣传活动。男性比女性能获取更准确、更全面的新冠疫情信息。在家庭中隔离高危人群似乎不可行，但参与者建议“换房”方法可能可行。虽然大多数参与者对新冠疫情有足够的了解，但他们缺乏预防传播的实用工具。
本研究首次探讨了叙利亚西北部新冠疫情爆发前几周国内流离失所叙利亚人的观点和生活经历。叙利亚国内流离失所者具有挑战性的生活条件因新冠疫情的蔓延而受到进一步威胁。迫切需要采取针对性的控制措施以减少营地中的新冠病毒传播。
