Is the “New Normal” in Idlib Different from the “Old Normal”?: How the COVID-19 Pandemic has Affected Idlib
Is the “New Normal” in Idlib Different from the “Old Normal”?: How the COVID-19 Pandemic has Affected Idlib
Part of the Syria Transition Challenges Project
Measures taken by the administration and the population against COVID-19 in Idlib have been insufficient. Although local health authorities were aware of dangers, they lacked the capacity to influence political and military decision-makers. Therefore, COVID-19 did not have a considerable impact on the daily life of the population and training of military groups. People still convened in open spaces and held closed meetings; markets were crowded and without adequate protection measures; mosques were crowded during the month of Ramadan and celebrations were performed as usual. As escalation and new political/social dynamics now dominate Idlib’s current agenda after the Moscow agreement, the COVID-19 pandemic is not a priority for the actors on the ground. This contribution aims to examine the activities of HTS in the context of the pandemicflict.
The ideas expressed are of the author’s not the publisher
Published in June 2020
All rights reserved to GCSP
Serhat Erkmen’s research focuses primarily on Iraq and Syria examining jihadist groups and foreign terrorist fighters. He is currently an Assistant Professor at the International Security and Terrorism Department of the Gendarmerie and Coast Guard Academy in Turkey. Previously, he was research fellow at the Center for Eurasian Strategic Studies, senior fellow at the Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies and head of Middle East and African desk at the 21st Turkey Institute. Dr Erkmen has conducted extensive research in Iraq and Syria on the security situation, regional/local politics and social dynamics for the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other institutions. He received his Ph.D. from the Social Sciences Institute of Ankara University.