THREAD In Damascus, the covid epidemic has been a silent, often lonely affair. Both the government and international aid agencies, despite ample time to respond, have left Syrians to depend mostly on themselves. But that is something Syrians discretely excel at

After the country’s early, pre-emptive lockdown had come and gone, residents in the capital faced an upsurge in covid-like symptoms, although they rarely could be properly diagnosed: PCR tests remained elusive, and authorities pressured doctors to conceal cases

As demand for healthcare surged, admission to both public and private hospitals increasingly hinged on nepotism and bribes. Many families were reduced to caring for ailing relatives themselves. By summer, doctors and nurses caught on, offering paid services at home

Life-saving forms of solidarity kicked in as the response shifted into the private sphere. While doctors and nurses did volunteer work, youth initiatives organized to provide consultations and oxygen cylinders, relying on informal yet intensive fundraising

The government stood by as this army of improvised health workers took over. President Bashar Assad hardly even mentioned covid in his speeches, while the Ministry of Health showed neither willingness nor capacity to coordinate a state-led response

The Syrian Arab Red Crescent remained on the margins, its role limited to small-scale efforts akin to those carried out by volunteer initiatives. In some instances, SARC paramedics took to social media to publicly share their despair at being unable to do more

The state’s absence didn’t make the disease itself any less visible. Death announcements multiplied noticeably on Facebook pages. Cemeteries remained open day and night to take in the increase in lonesome burials. However silenced, the outbreak was palpable to all

Society won a quiet victory of sorts, building confidence in its own defense mechanisms. By caring for mild cases at home, Syrian families protected what little space existed in hospitals for more severe ones—providing relief to a health system that is derelict and adrift

This is not to say that the crisis has passed. On the contrary, many now brace for new waves of sickness as winter approaches and over-crowded schools reopen. But Syrian society, precisely because it had to fend for itself, is now remarkably aware, organized, and prepared