Turkey cuts off water from Syria’s Hasakah more than 40 times
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – Official in Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) said on Sunday Turkey has cut off water to more than a million people over 40 times since its occupation of the city of Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain), northeast Syria.
Issa Younes, co-chair of General Directorate of Drinking Water of the AANES in Hasakah Governorate, northeast Syria, told North Press in an exclusive statement that Turkey has cut off water from Alouk water station more than 40 times, as the last time it was cut off for about eight months.
In 2019, Turkish forces and their affiliated Syrian armed opposition factions, also known as Syrian National Army (SNA), launched the so-called “Peace Spring” military operation where it occupied Sere Kaniye and its countryside.
“The Turkish ongoing water cut off increased the suffering the residents who endure real tragedy,” Younes added.
The official further explained that the station has been fed with electricity since April 18, and it is supposed to be ready to pump water, but it does not.
He added that the main tank with a capacity of 30,000 mᵌ at al-Hamma station needs about 10 hours to be filled if the station is operated at medium capacity, but filling the tank took more than four days, after which water was pumped to the neighborhoods of Hasakah.
“Tel Hajar neighborhood line waited about 62 days for water,” according to Younes. “Turkey is weaponizing water to reach its political ends.”
The official denounced the international silence regarding this continuous violation, saying that it is “a crime against humanity.”
Younes explained that they disconnected the power supply to the station because the residents were not receiving water.
On June 3, the Alouk station resumed operation after an agreement, mediated by UNICEF, was reached that required the AANES to supply areas under the occupation of the SNA with electricity in return for pumping drinking water from the station to the city of Hasakah.
However, Turkey has violated the agreement for many times, according to Younes.