This photo, shared online on December 7, 2020, shows overcrowding during a graduation ceremony for about 400 students that took place at Aleppo ‘Free’ University in Izaz city in the northern suburbs of Aleppo governorate, held by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education of the Syrian Interim Government, in cooperation with the university administration. The organizers have clearly ignored the importance of maintaining social distancing, with attendees violating all the precautionary measures introduced to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic among the public. SNHR notes that the number of infection cases in northwest Syria is continuing to increase, reaching 17,322 cases, including 219 deaths, according to a statement issued by the epidemiological surveillance laboratory of the Early Warning, Alert and Response Network (EWARN) on December 6, 2020.
We affirm that the responsibility for raising awareness and ensuring compliance with these essential health measures lies with the local council and the governing forces and the controlling parties. Accordingly, the Syrian Islamic council and National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, in coordination with all its apparatuses and bodies, must take serious action in regard to this issue, by promoting and encouraging the wearing of masks and the idea of physical and social distancing, and by issuing bulletins and regular data on the latest figures and following up on the implementation of these measures in order to safeguard all members of society and minimize the risk of infection and death.
