Key issues related to the COVID-19 response in Syria are as follows: first, the Syrian Government's response to this pandemic (and previous epidemics—eg, polio) have been characterised by numerous short-fallings and have not provided for the whole population. Second, there have been reports of threats to, and forced disappearances of, health-care workers who had reported suspected COVID-19 cases, subsequently impeding COVID-19 response and violating international humanitarian law. Lastly, closure of the border crossing for humanitarian access to northeast Syria in January, 2020, and further border closures affecting the northwest agreed in July, 2020, has a greater potential to harm civilians than the sanctions placed on the Syrian Government.