The coronavirus has now reached north-east Syria. Last week, the Health Committee of the autonomous administration announced two confirmed cases of infection in Hesekê. Northeast Syria is also home to the Hol Camp, where, among others, some 40,000 ISIS women and their children are held.

The Kurdish Red Crescent (Heyva Sor a Kurd) and the management of Hol Camp try to disinfect the camp as well as possible and inform the inhabitants about protective measures. Alternative accommodation is not possible due to the danger posed by the ISIS women and the lack of responsibility of the jihadists' countries of origin.

Raman Oso from Heyva Sor a Kurd says: "We conduct tests in the camp. So far, no positive cases have been detected." He criticizes the international community for not keeping its word and not setting up a quarantine center in the camp: "Although months have passed since the international institutions promised to set up such a center, they have not kept their word so far. We do not know why they are breaking their word."

Oso states that a quarantine centre with five beds was set up with their own resources, but this is not enough. “We have the capacity to treat about 450 additional sick people a day. However, if the pandemic breaks out, there will be major problems in the camp.”