Recommendations and guidance with regard to the COVID-19 situation

Important note: The information provided below should be considered as general recommendations on the protection activities to prioritize and suggestions on how to implement them due to the COVID-19 situation in Syria. Each organization retains the final responsibility for the implementation of activities and should carefully consider the adoption of risk prevention and mitigation measures to ensure the safety and security of its staff and beneficiaries.

Global Protection Cluster has created and maintains updated a dedicated page on the COVID-19 and Protection. 

Please see below key resources:

1. WHO: General information (Arabic)
2. World Health Organization Situation Reports
3. Corona Virus Explained
4. Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)
5. ACAPS #COVID19 Government Measures Dataset

1. Interim Guidance on Scaling-up COVID-19 Outbreak in Readiness and Response Operations in Camps and Camp-like Settings (jointly developed by IFRC, IOM, UNHCR and WHO);
2. Interim Briefing Note Addressing Mental Health and Psychosocial Aspects of COVID-19 Outbreak (developed by the IASC’s Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support)
3. Interim Recommendations for Adjusting Food Distribution Standard Operating Procedures in the Context of the COVID-19 Outbreak (developed by WFP)
4. Interim Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention and Control in Schools (jointly developed by IFRC, UNICEF, and WHO)
5. Interim Guidance on COVID-19: Focus on Persons Deprived of their Liberty (developed by OHCHR and WHO)
6. Interim Technical Note: Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) during COVID-19 Response - Version 1.0 (developed by WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNHCR, WFP, IOM, OCHA, CHS Alliance, InterAction and the UN Victims’ Rights Advocate)
7. Interim Guidance: Gender Alert for COVID-19 Outbreak (developed by the IASC Reference Group for Gender in Humanitarian Action)
8. Interim Key Messages: Flexible Funding for Humanitarian Response and COVID-19 (developed by IASC Results Group 5 on Humanitarian Financing)

1. Mental Health Considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak
2. Critical preparedness, readiness and response actions for COVID-19 Interim guidance 16 March 2020
3. Responding to Community Spread of COVID-19
4. Advice on the use of masks in the community, during home care, and in health care settings in the context of the novel coronavirus
5. Key Messages and Actions for COVID-19 Prevention and Control in Schools
6. Considerations in the investigation of cases and clusters of COVID-19
7. COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan: Operational Planning Guidelines to Support Country Preparedness and Response
8. COVID-19: Operational guidance for maintaining essential health services during an outbreak, WHO, 25 March 2020
9. How to use WHO risk assessment and mitigation checklist for Mass Gatherings in the context of COVID-19
10. Critical preparedness, readiness and response actions for COVID-19

For additional technical guidance from WHO, please see here.

Additional materials from the health sector (Dropbox)

1. Child Protection Area of Responsibility (CP AoR) resources on COVID-19
2. Gender-Based Violence Area of Responsibility (GBV AoR) tools and resources on COVID-19
3. Gender-Based Violence Area of Responsibility (GBV AoR) advocacy resources on COVID-19

1. Syria: Protection Sector Priority HRP activities during COVID-19 - 17 March 2020
2. Syrian Arab Republic: Protection Principles to Mainstream in the Quarantine Response / April 2020

Sphere Standards and response to Corona virus (Arabic)

COVID-19: Inclusive programming – Ensuring assistance and protection addresses the needs of marginalized and at-risk people