QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Yildiz Shamo’n soaks vegetables, especially leafy ones, in water in an attempt to disinfect them and get rid of awful smell that is coming out of them.
Shamo’n, who has lived in al-Beshiriyah neighborhood near Jaghjagh river in the city of Qamishli, northeastern Syria, for about 50 years, said, “When you buy vegetables, you can find out the source of water from which they were watered only through smelling it.”
“When I buy vegetables, they smell [awful] like Jaghjagh,” she added.
The sixtieth woman is afraid of having cholera, as farmers depend on wastewater that flows into the river in watering their crops.
Recently, Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) recorded cases of cholera that are a result of drinking contaminated water or eating vegetables that were watered with contaminated water.
On September 27, Health Board of the AANES recorded 105 confirmed cases of cholera and 17 deaths.
Jaghjagh River is one of the most important sources of pollution in Qamishli, as neighboring residents and shops owners throw trash in it.
The situation is further compounded by cutting off the river’s water coming from Turkey and connecting sewers to the river.
Mahdi Aqeel, an official in Qamishli municipality of the AANES, said, “We issued [in corporation with Agricultural Board] a resolution that says that everyone who uses Jaghjagh to water crops will be fined.”
There are four farmers were fined for using the river in water crops, according to Aqeel.
However, it seems that these measures are useless, as farmers whose lands are located in areas held by Syrian government forces continue to use the water of the river in watering their crops.
The municipality cannot get to the aforementioned farmers and fine them, according to residents.
North Press correspondent could not get to farmers who use the river as a source of watering, but there were engines and submersibles on the sides of the river.
Wastewater affects the composition of soil and its suitability for cultivation.
In addition, it affects public health, as it causes diseases and has a great danger on raw vegetables.
Yaaqoub Sabri, a farmer from Syriac district neighboring Jaghjagh, stressed that he avoids using the river’s water in irrigation.
Sabri, as he was turning on his engine to run water from his well, said, “Although my land is near the river, I do not use it in order not to transmit infections to people.”
“I have pure water in my well, why should I use contaminated water,” he added in his local accent.
Irrigating using the river’s water is not the only problem, as neighboring residents complain about the awful smell and the insects that are increasing due to wastewater.
Maggie Youssef, 68, who lives in al-Beshiriyah neighborhood, complains about the problem of spreading of flies in her house overlooking the river.
“We cannot leave fruits uncovered, nobody visits us due to the smell,” she added.
She said that she cannot sit in the yard of her house due to swarms of flies and mosquitoes, and the insects that are spreading along the river.
“People talk about cholera, this river is a source of cholera,” she added.
In addition, there are a lot of dogs, snakes and buffalos along the river, which in turn disturb the woman.
Residents and shops’ owners neighboring the river criticize the municipality and hold it accountable for the pollution of the river.
In turn, the municipality blames the residents who continue in throwing trash in the river.
Recently, the municipality cleaned the river and put dumpsters near it, in addition, it imposed fines on those who throw trash in the river.
However, this was insufficient, as the residents and the shops’ owners kept throwing their trash in it, leading to accumulating it again in the river.
The official in Qamishli municipality promised to clean the river once more and put more dumpsters.
This will not work, as it needs strict action against those who throw their trash in the river, according to residents.