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Assad Exploiting COVID-19 Prevention Measures to Consolidate Grip on Syria,
Observers Say

Dale Gavlak

   AMMAN - Observers say the government of Syrian President'¯Bashar
   al-Assad is using the coronavirus crisis to exploit prevention measures
   to consolidate its control. Syria's health ministry has so far reported
   59 cases of'¯COVID-19, with three deaths, accounting only for people in
   areas under Assad's control.'¯But Western intelligence officials
   believe the official tally is far too low. Concerns are growing'¯that
   the pandemic could devastate crowded displacement camps and
   conflict-ridden regions in Syria's northwest and northeast.

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