Water system in quake-hit NW Syria at risk of collapse – ICRC
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Syria’s “ageing and war-damaged” water system around the northwestern province of Aleppo is at risk of collapse after back-to-back earthquakes in February, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned on Monday.
The quakes and aftershocks caused direct damage to water infrastructure there, reducing its effectiveness and raising the risk that contaminated water could seep in, the Geneva-based ICRC said in a statement, warning of a possible collapse.
“Many rooftop water tanks were also destroyed during the earthquake,” it said, “creating additional strain on the system which is already impaired after 12 years of conflict.”
The ICRC warned that a new health emergency such as the spread of infectious diseases would be a catastrophe for the region.
“The possibility of devastating public health consequences as a knock-on effect from the earthquake is frighteningly high,” said Fabrizio Carboni, the regional director for the Near and Middle East for the ICRC.
The ICRC noted that only 50 percent of water and sanitation systems function properly across Syria.
Back-to-back earthquakes have been hitting Syria and Turkey since February 6, killing at least 50,000 people, millions have lost their homes and 214,000 buildings have collapsed or at risk of collapse. As well as, millions of people remain in urgent need of help.
The ICRC called on all conflicting parties in Syria to put aside all political disagreements and facilitate humanitarian work so that aid is delivered to those affected regardless of the modality.