Syrian Ministry of Health condemns Turkey’s water cut-off to Hasakah
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Ministry of Health of the Syrian government denounced on Saturday Turkey’s cut-off of drinking water to the city of Hasakah and its countryside, northeastern Syria.
Hassan al-Ghabbash, Minister of Health said, “Turkey’s cutting off drinking water to Hasakah for more than 50 days is an inhumane act,” reported SANA, the state-run news agency.
He added that this cut-off will lead to humanitarian disasters and contribute to the spread of infection diseases.
The minister’s remarks came during a meeting with representatives of United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations.
On September 13, the United Nations expressed its “serious concerns” over the outbreak of the cholera epidemic in Syria.
The minister added that the epidemic “is completely under control thanks to the proactive measures of the ministry,” said SANA.
Turkey and its affiliated armed opposition factions, also known as Syrian National Army (SNA), have halted service at Alouk water pumping station which is the only water resource feeding Hasakah and its countryside.
Since October 2019, Turkey has cut off water to Hasakah for more than 27 times, according to official statements by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
On Saturday, the AANES recorded three cholera-caused deaths in Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor Governorates. A day later, an official of the AANES Health Board said that the aforementioned cholera infections were caused by contaminated water.
On Saturday, Syrian Ministry of Health announced recording 15 cholera infections in Aleppo governorate.