Syrian war, coronavirus and the aftermath
History books are full of lessons we can learn from the past. The great influenza pandemic of 1918, often called the Spanish flu, caused the deaths of between 50 million and 100 million people worldwide; a total even higher than the number of casualties in the First World War.
That pandemic did not only overlap with the last months of the war, but endured in its aftermath as people returned to their homes or relocated after the fighting stopped.
The wartime conditions played a key role in the spread and severity of the disease.
Thus the war and the pandemic were closely intertwined; not only did the conflict create crowded conditions in military camps, but also among populations trapped in the war zones and forced to live in close proximity for protection.
It created the perfect conditions for the virus to spread rapidly and the death toll to soar; it is even suggested that influenza and pneumonia killed more American soldiers and sailors than enemy fire.
As we recall the “Great War,” it is easy to forget the present-day war that continues in Syria. Geir Pedersen, the UN special envoy for Syria, on Tuesday appealed for a “complete, immediate nationwide” cease-fire to enable an all-out effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus in the war-torn country.
Acknowledging a call last week from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Pedersen called on all warring factions around the world to immediately end hostilities to enable the “human family” to tackle a common enemy: COVID-19. He warned that a failure to implement a ceasefire would have terrible implications for Syria and for the wider global response to the coronavirus crisis. For that reason a long-called-for nationwide cease-fire is needed now more than ever, Pedersen said, citing UN Security Council Resolution 2254. An outbreak would have catastrophic consequences on a war-torn country whose infrastructure, economy and health-care system have been devastated by nine years of war.
Although recent cease-fires have de-escalated the violence in northeast and northwest Syria, Pederson said, the agreements remain fragile and renewed hostilities could erupt at any moment.
On March 5, Turkey and Russia agreed to halt military activity in the northwestern Idlib region after an escalation of violence that displaced nearly a million people and brought the two nations close to a direct confrontation. However, the war in Syria continues; troops are being deployed, proxy militias are being sent from Iran and other countries, and displaced people are waiting for a remedy to their desperate situation.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu met Bashar Assad in Damascus on Monday. They discussed the implementation of a sustainable cease-fire in the Idlib de-escalation zone, according to Russia’s Defense Ministry. Meanwhile, Turkish and Russian troops held a second round of joint patrols on the M4 highway in Idlib, under the scope of the Moscow Agreement. However, the patrols, which are supposed to cover the road connecting the cities of Aleppo and Latakia, were cut short because of security concerns, the Russian Defense Ministry said. Their first joint patrol, on March 15, was also curtailed, as result of what Moscow called rebel provocations.
As Russia and Turkey continue their attempts to uphold a cease-fire agreement, their efforts seem all the more significant as the whole world contends with a rapidly spreading pandemic. The deal aims to address Ankara’s main concerns, which are to prevent a further flood of refugees and prevent the deaths of more Turkish troops.
Amid the coronavirus crisis, Turkish
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu wrote an article for the Financial Times headlined “EU inaction on Syrian refugees is a stain on human conscience.” In it, Turkey’s top diplomat said his country is unable to take in any more refugees, from Syria or anywhere else.
Turkey has been a member of NATO for almost 70 years and expects the organization to be more effective in Syria to ensure security. Europe’s lack of action to address the refugee crisis, together with NATO’s refusal to address the problem at its source in Syria, does nothing to help the plight of Syrians.
Now more than ever, as this virus rages around the world and threatens every person regardless of ethnicity or religion, more action is needed from international organizations. Cease-fires are needed not only in Syria but in all war-torn countries, such as Libya and Yemen, along with measures to prevent foreign militias entering these countries, greater efforts to help refugees and displaced people. These should be the priorities.
No one wants a repeat of the awful experience endured by millions around the world a century ago.