Drawing water project to thirsty Syria’s Hasakah waiting approval, budget
HASAKHA, Syria (North Press) – The project to draw water from the town of Amuda to the thirsty city of Hasakah, northeast Syria, will be finished in nine months in case of obtaining the required approval and budget by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), an official in Hasakah said on Wednesday.
On July 3, the AANES announced Hasakah Governorate a disaster area because of Turkey’s water cut-off from Alouk station.
Alouk water station, which lies in the city of Ras al-Ain (Sere Kaniye), is the only water resource feeding Hasakah and its countryside, however, the station is controlled by Turkey and its affiliated armed opposition factions, also known as the Syrian National Army (SNA).
In 2019, the Turkish forces and the SNA factions launched the so-called “Peace Spring” military operation where it occupied Sere Kaniye and its countryside.
All mediations, through international parties, to draw water from the station to Hasakah have failed, the last of which was a month ago by UNICEF.
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 Hasakah.
Residents of Hasakah strive to obtain undrinkable water from tankers or buy water bottles in light of the persisting dilemma.
Rostm Bakr, co-chair of Municipalities and Environment Committee in Hasakah, told North Press that “final studies for drawing water from Amuda to Hasakah project has been completed,” and have been sent to the Executive Council of the AANES for approval and budget.
Bakr denied the news that the project came into effect, stressing that “we are waiting for the final approval and the budget for this project.”
He added that whenever the approval and the budget are obtained tenders and the needed duration for the project will be announced.
The official appealed to all international and humanitarian organizations to “to stand by the city of Hasakah and pressure the Turkish occupation state and its mercenaries in Alouk area” in order to allow water flow from the main water supply Alouk station to Hasakah.
Alouk water station witnessed frequent cut-offs by the Turkish army following its occupation of Sere Kaniye in 2019.
On July 2, Issa Younes, co-chair of General Directorate of Drinking Water of the AANES in Hasakah 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.