River in NE Syria moves toward near-total drought
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – North Press observed on Monday a near-total drought in the Khabur River in the countryside of Hasakah in northeastern Syria due to water shortage and rising temperature.
The drought led to the formation of stagnant pools filled with dirt and mud, spreading along the river from the city of Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) all the way to the south of Hasakah.
For years, Turkey has been controlling the water flow into Syria, especially the Euphrates River, despite the 1987 agreement with Syria and Iraq, which stipulates that Turkey pumps 500 cubic meters of water per second from the Euphrates River towards Syria.
The 320 km long Khabur River stems from southern Turkey and enters Syrian territory in Sere Kaniye, passes through the town of Tel Tamr and Hasaka, and joins the Jaghjagh river, which then flows into the Euphrates River near the town of al-Mayadin in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor in eastern Syria.
In the past two days, there have been reports of fish dying in the river, signaling a threat to wildlife similar to that of last year when thousands of fish died in the same river due to complete water shortage.