Strict measures against the pandemic have been taken in the self-governing districts of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiya in Aleppo, Northern Syria. The people live an exemplary solidarity.
The autonomous administration of North and East Syria has taken rapid action against infection following the global spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. Crisis teams have been set up in the cities to coordinate action on the ground. The crisis management team of the neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud (Şêxmeqsûd) and Ashrafiya (Eşrefiyê) in Aleppo had banned assemblies and group meetings in the city on March 15 and a curfew has been in place since March 22. The People’s Municipality of the neighborhoods decided that shops would not have to pay rent due to the April curfew. The environmental cleaning taxes in March and April were cancelled and electricity was provided free for a week. On 7 April the curfew was extended. Meanwhile, the People’s Municipality is disinfecting all streets in the two neighbourhoods.
On the other hand, the Health Council has also taken important measures. For all those who are forced to enter the neighborhood, fever is measured first at the Şehîd Xalid Fecir hospital. The Health Council has set up a tent in the garden of the hospital so that people do not have to enter the hospital for a check-up. The Health Council also distributes information leaflets about the virus.
Solidary help
To avoid queues, 33 bread distribution points have been set up in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiya. The bread is distributed through the communes. The people who are particularly hard hit by the curfews are supplied by people with a better income. Masks are produced in the sewing factories for the inhabitants of the neighborhoods.
The Economic Council has packed 19,000 packages of vegetables and 5,000 bottles of disinfectant and distributed them to those in need. In the meantime, the councils of the two neighborhoods have collected six million Syrian Lira (about 11,000 Euro) for needy families.
The co-chair of the General Council of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiya, Mihemed Şêxo, stated that the people of the neighborhoods are following the rules and no infection has been detected so far. He thanked everyone for their exemplary solidarity.
