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Column Making chemical weapons a defining issue in Syria sends entirely the wrong message

If the international community is serious about helping the people of Syria, it should set about creating the conditions for a massive humanitarian intervention, which of course would mean concentrating everything that is killing people.

IF, AS IT has been announced by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the Syrian government has destroyed its capacity for developing chemical weapons, then this is to be welcomed.

However, no one should kid themselves that it will make a blind bit of difference to the everyday lives of ordinary Syrian people, or to the ability of aid agencies like GOAL to access areas of need. It won’t.

There have been at least 100,000 people killed in Syria in less than three years (the true figure may be twice that) and innumerable people injured.

Entire towns, villages and heavily-populated city neighbourhoods have been levelled; more than 4.25 million people driven from their homes; and in excess of 7 million people left in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. At most, only around one per cent of the deaths in Syria have been caused by chemical weapons, and none of the destruction.

Daily bombing, and sniper and rocket fire

Millions of people did not flee their homes because they feared that chemical weapons might be unleashed upon them. Rather, they fled the daily bombing, and sniper and rocket fire they have been subjected to. Throughout the furore around chemical weapons, the levels of “conventional” violence have not diminished in the slightest.

Abhorrent as the use of chemical weapons was, to make it a defining issue in the Syrian context sent out entirely the wrong message.

For more than two years, the world stood by and did nothing about the wholesale slaughter Syria. Only when chemical weapons were used was an ultimatum issued. The unmistakable subtext was that what had gone before, and continues unchecked, was acceptable.

It is a subtext that certainly hasn’t been lost on the hundreds of Syrians that I have spoken to over the past three months. I’ve lost count of the number of people who have, in one form or another, said to me: “So this means that it’s okay for us to be bombed by Migs [fighter planes] and tanks, and to be shot down in the street, as long as they don’t use chemicals.”

The world’s apathetic attitude to Syria

Aside from the deaths, destruction and overall humanitarian catastrophe that has been created, something else has resulted from the world’s apathetic attitude to Syria. Foreign jihadist fighters have eagerly filled the vacuum, flocking to the country to pursue their own fundamentalist agendas. It matters not one jot to these people whether or not the Syrian government can produce chemical weapons.

Moreover, jihadist groups are rapidly gaining ground in Syria, constantly moving into areas that had previously been relatively safe for agencies like GOAL to operate in. Not surprisingly, the delivery of aid is becoming increasingly difficult.

If the international community is serious about helping the people of Syria, it should set about creating the conditions for a massive humanitarian intervention, which of course would mean concentrating on what is actually killing people. If this doesn’t happen, then it will prove what many of us already suspect: that the chemical weapons issue was cynically used to avoid doing much at all.

David Adams is a media officer with GOAL. He has been in Syria for the past three and a half months.

GOAL’s Syria intervention is delivering a monthly food ration and other aid to 240,000 people a month. In preparation for the winter, GOAL will soon be targeting 12,000 families with non-food items, including woollen blankets, buckets and jerry cans; and a further 5,700 families with hygiene kits. To learn more about GOAL’s work in Syria, click here. To donate to GOAL, click here.

Read: Syria has destroyed all of its chemical weapons equipment: watchdog

Read: Syrian families try to recover in neighbouring refugee camps

Read: UN warns of Syria polio outbreak after cluster of cases reported

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    Mute Joan Needham
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    Aug 4th 2020, 7:10 AM

    This is the most conflicting disease ever! Kids were super spreaders, now they’re not. Wear masks to masks can spread the disease to everyone must wear a mask in retail but not in other indoor settings. The saying ‘We’re all in this together’ but some people went to work throughout, some people had to struggle to work from home whilst minding kids and some people reckoned they enjoyed their time off hugely. Pubs can’t open but there have been protests, amusement centres are open, children’s playgrounds are open etc. A lot of people have taken hour cuts or pay cuts but the Government junior ministers got a pay rise of €16k which is the equivalent to a part time workers ANNUAL wage. It’s all very inconsistent.

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    Mute Nioe
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    Aug 4th 2020, 7:32 AM

    @Joan Needham: calm down. it’s all very new and we still know very little about it. We are adapting to what we learn.

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    Mute Mrs Doyle
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    Aug 4th 2020, 7:40 AM

    @Joan Needham: well said!

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    Mute Thornto84
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    Aug 4th 2020, 8:04 AM

    @Joan Needham: 100% right well said, even at the start of was young people will kill granny then they were fine now it’s back to young people will kill there granny again, also vaccine will get us out of this and only way to get back to normal and yesterday we are told there’s might never be a “silver bullet” and might never be one it’s all over the place along with all the policies being introduced, I say people could lose patience very soon

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    Mute Thornto84
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    Aug 4th 2020, 8:15 AM

    @Thornto84: *their

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    Mute The Guru
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    Aug 4th 2020, 10:01 AM

    @Thornto84: it’s hardly surprising. It’s a brand new illness that we’re learning more about each day. Advice is going to change based on the latest evidence. Would you prefer if they just came up with one plan at the start and blindly stuck to it just to save face?

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    Mute Thornto84
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    Aug 4th 2020, 10:32 AM

    @The Guru: The “it’s a new virus we are still learning” is the worse counter argument, we’ve known about it for 8/9 months and have possibly 1000′s of scientists studying it and you still go with it’s a brand new illness and we are still learning, its a coronavirus and we know alot about them, the common cold is one, only good research coming out now is suggesting we actually have a good immunity to it, fair few articles coming out suggesting, I highly suggest have a look at them it will actually offer people bit of hope rather then the doom and gloom

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    Mute Joe_X
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    Aug 4th 2020, 12:49 PM

    @Thornto84: It is known as the scientific method. The more we learn about it, the more how we deal with it is revised. You might try it sometime.

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    Mute Pat Kelly
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    Aug 4th 2020, 1:08 PM

    @Mrs Doyle: as long as bouncer is okay!

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    Mute Thornto84
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    Aug 4th 2020, 1:46 PM

    @Joe_X: Don’t worry I do that buddy why I’ve come across plenty about how we could actually be able to develop immunity to this virus, you might try your own advice you’re very quick to try and shoot people down who have a different opinion

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    Mute Margaret Lane
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    Aug 22nd 2020, 8:57 PM

    I suspect a lot of other diseases were as conflicting the first few months after they were discovered. It takes years, probably decades to learn about a disease. Of course we would be confused at this point. The years of research just aren’t there to give us the information. We’re learning, bit by bit.

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    Mute Daniel Murray
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    Aug 4th 2020, 7:12 AM

    The South Korean study said Primary/infants (age 5-10)was the least infectious group but adolescents in Secondary (10-19) was the most infectious. This article just says “schools” so I’d have to see breakdown by age ranges. From the same lancet article: “A notable exception to the general pattern of very low attack rates in school settings occurred during an outbreak centred in a high school in northern France
     Infection attack rates were high in students (aged 14–18 years) and staff (38% and 49%, respectively)” That matches the South Korean study.

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    Mute D'oh
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    Aug 4th 2020, 8:49 AM

    @Daniel Murray: Now Daniel, the Journal is now place evidence and science. Away with you!!!

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    Mute Forkan Orla
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    Aug 4th 2020, 7:15 AM

    This study has since been shown not to be correct sure the current state of emergency in Australia began in school system. There are numerous studies that now show in schools that transmission rates are similar to rest of society and higher where social distance and masks are not worn . Children over 10 transmit at same rate as adults and under at around 50 %. Asymptomatic spread is common as children can have few mild symptoms.

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    Mute Daniel Murray
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    Aug 4th 2020, 7:36 AM

    @Forkan Orla: Only 12 students in this Lancet study were found to be positive with COVID to begin with. I wouldn’t be making national policy based on the outcomes on literally a dozen students that were mostly contained with contact tracing. They might have gotten lucky in January but look at Australia now with a run on supermarkets yesterday. In fact Ireland was mentioned in this same Lancet article, six students in one outbreak, probably that ski trip. Still good news about primary schools ages.

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    Mute Doreen_Geoghegan
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    Aug 4th 2020, 7:29 AM

    This research is completely out of date and does not reflect the current pandemic progression. School term in Australua is Feb 4 to April 9. The progression of the pandemic has developed in extraordinary ways since this time.
    Australia had 21 cases in March 10 and has 395 (Aug 3)cases daily now as it is now in crisis and was not then. What was the R number when this research was done? What is it now?
    The temperatures in term 1 were favourable to outdoor activities. What was the air quality in the schools?
    We can have our schools open with the simple measures hand washing with soap, cough/sneeze etiquette, cleaning surfaces with detergent avoiding chemicals which cause respiratory irritation and dermatitis. Air quality of 5 air changes per hour increased in inclement weather and air purification where air flow us inadequate. Face coverings should be used where possible when indoors. Get outdoors as much as possible.
    We can do this. This tiny germ has no brain – we have. Let’s use it.

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    Mute Daniel Murray
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    Aug 4th 2020, 7:48 AM

    @Doreen_Geoghegan: The advise to schools reads “remember, this virus is not airborne”. These scientists say otherwise. https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/doi/10.1093/cid/ciaa939/5867798

    Nobody is claiming that it’s the primary mode of transmission but people need to be cautious about proper ventilation and the Government need to update their advise. Most of that advise to schools stuff comes from very early data gathered in April and May. It’s August and yet here we are again with the “no need for masks, just stay 2m apart and for some reason 1m in a school because the virus is scared of nuns”.

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    Mute Doreen_Geoghegan
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    Aug 4th 2020, 8:34 AM

    @Daniel Murray: Yes WHO have not extended face coverings to all indoor situations which is delaying our control of the pandemic.
    COVID-19 multiplies and spreads from human lungs. From each breath to cough the virus is emitted from the infected host. Close conversations in enclosed spaces are a risk… but introduce fresh air and this risk lowers. Unlike hair lice we cannot see the germ, but we can prevent it’s spread by wearing face coverings. We face a long winter lockdown and many unnecessary unpleasant lifelong COVID-19 health complications if this is not managed safely. In WHO terms it is not a virus you would want to contract.

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    Mute Bob Rock
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    Aug 4th 2020, 8:06 AM

    Data in this study was analysed between January and April. Things have changed drastically since then. Another study published 5 days ago reports otherwise on data in US. https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamhaseltine/2020/07/31/new-evidence-suggests-young-children-spread-covid-19-more-efficiently-than-adults/

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    Mute Michael Patrick Newell
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    Aug 4th 2020, 8:27 AM

    Just open the schools up, cos we need another way to blame the youth for something in relation to covid, also sure them pesky teachers are getting easy money for minding your darling, well behaved monsters, so back to school as fast as possible even if this government are proving they have no real clue or nowhere near the resources to make it completely safe to do so…..meanwhile mammy and daddy can go off shopping on Saturday and not wear a mask and meet up with friends for drinks with the added knowledge of knowing they spent 9 euro on food each so they don’t have to worry about covid cos its only kids and the elderly that were meant to be the targets of this disease

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    Mute Vladimir Macro
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    Aug 4th 2020, 10:14 AM

    @Michael Patrick Newell: Quality

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    Mute Barty
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    Aug 4th 2020, 7:23 AM

    Get schools open at all costs because when everything else fails we can blame the kids.

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    Mute Mocheolthu
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    Aug 4th 2020, 11:30 AM

    The headline should read: “A study of 12 children”
    That study isn’t reliable on such a small data set. Another statistic you could read from it is that the 27 infected had a transmission rate (R) of 0.6 in s school setting alone. So their overall R rate would be much higher after they return to their families reach evening.

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    Mute Seanboy
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    Aug 4th 2020, 7:50 AM

    Debunked?

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    Mute ChronicAnxiety
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    Aug 4th 2020, 9:12 AM
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    Mute David Bourke
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    Aug 4th 2020, 11:54 AM

    The journal demonstrates the real need for a law forcing the media to properly reference “studies” they quote in articles.

    I had to look pretty hard for the original study, and it does not say “very low risk of students and teachers transmitting covid-19″. It says that with proper social distancing measures and controls, that it *can be* low.

    Ie: “We can open schools with strict controls and limits”, not “it’s totally fine, kids don’t spread it” like this article implies.

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    Mute Vladimir Macro
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    Aug 4th 2020, 10:12 AM

    I assume the government will ignore this and force the kids to wear masks just like they will ignore what the WHO said 2 weeks ago-There is no evidence that Asymptomatic spread the virus.

    So the WHO was asked why were they advising masks to be worn.

    WHO said because of political lobbying.

    Anyone can look this up.

    A charade comes to mind.

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    Mute Bob Rock
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    Aug 4th 2020, 10:58 AM

    @Vladimir Macro: Presenting strong claims without evidence to support or sources? Very reliable indeed. Thanks for your very valuable contribution to the discussion!

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    Mute NotMyIreland
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    Aug 4th 2020, 11:29 AM

    @Vladimir Macro: The W.H.O state that true asymptomatic transmission rate is unknown, not doesn’t exist. They also state that the rate of asymptomatic cases is most likley at 23%. What they do differentiate is asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic cases. 44% of transmission, in cases that developed some sort of symptoms (77% of cases), is achieved before symptoms appear. So in this case masks are important, especially as the routes of transmission are still relatively unknown.

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    Mute NotMyIreland
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    Aug 4th 2020, 11:33 AM

    @NotMyIreland: ww.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/transmission-of-sars-cov-2-implications-for-infection-prevention-precautions

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    Mute Vladimir Macro
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    Aug 4th 2020, 1:21 PM
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    Mute Bob Rock
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    Aug 4th 2020, 2:02 PM

    @Vladimir Macro: that statement was made in early June it seems and was quickly corrected/redacted the following day (https://www.statnews.com/2020/06/09/who-comments-asymptomatic-spread-covid-19/). You forgot to mention that part but appreciate you providing a source at least so it can be assessed.

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    Mute Bob Rock
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    Aug 4th 2020, 2:05 PM

    @Vladimir Macro: and I also appreciate that the source didn’t come directly from RussiaToday. A welcome change.

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    Mute Tony Garcia
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    Aug 4th 2020, 9:14 AM

    Unions will just ignore this and make opening the schools as hard as they can.

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    Mute Valthebear
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    Aug 4th 2020, 9:21 AM

    @Tony Garcia: in all fairness there is no evidence for that statement.

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    Mute Kevin Lonergan
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    Aug 4th 2020, 9:30 AM

    @Tony Garcia: Nothing to do with the unions here. This research is already out of date and the experiences of other countries who have opened schools contradicts it. The teachers’ unions have been involved in talks with the department of education around planning for re-opening right from the start and have consistently said that the safety of their members is their number one priority, as it should be. Even two weeks ago we might have said that numbers in the community are so low that the schools should re-open but not now given the sharp rise in new case numbers here.

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