Residents of Hassakeh, a province in northeast Syria, are grappling with a severe water shortage following Turkish military strikes that have cut off vital electricity and water supplies to more than one million people. The airstrikes, aimed at Kurdish groups, have significantly worsened the already critical situation exacerbated by years of civil war and climate-induced drought.
Turkish Military Actions Leave Over One Million in Northeast Syria Without Water and Power
Turkish Military Actions Leave Over One Million in Northeast Syria Without Water and Power
Escalating Turkish airstrikes exacerbate humanitarian crisis amid ongoing drought in the region.
The Turkish air force has conducted over 100 attacks targeting oil fields and infrastructure supporting Kurdish-held areas from October 2019 to January 2024, as reported by the BBC. Access to the Alouk water station, which serves as the main supply for Hassakeh, has been severed due to damaged power infrastructure, leaving locals reliant on tanker deliveries. However, these deliveries fall short of meeting the community's colossal needs.
In response to the airstrikes, Turkish authorities justify their actions as targeting terrorist organizations, specifically the PKK and its affiliate groups. Nonetheless, residents in the affected areas express a dire humanitarian plea, stating, "Water is more precious than gold here." The strain on water resources has led to conflict among desperate families, reflecting the alarming severity of the situation.
Experts warn that Turkey's attacks on civilian infrastructure could signal violations of international law. The ongoing extreme drought, which has gripped the region for over three years, compounds the environmental crises affecting water availability and agricultural sustainability.
As conflicts persist, overseas legal experts call for investigations into possible war crimes related to these military actions, while Turkish officials maintain they adhere to international laws and have attributed the water crisis to climate factors rather than military aggression. Meanwhile, communities in Hassakeh feel increasingly abandoned as they confront their struggle for the basic necessity of water.
In response to the airstrikes, Turkish authorities justify their actions as targeting terrorist organizations, specifically the PKK and its affiliate groups. Nonetheless, residents in the affected areas express a dire humanitarian plea, stating, "Water is more precious than gold here." The strain on water resources has led to conflict among desperate families, reflecting the alarming severity of the situation.
Experts warn that Turkey's attacks on civilian infrastructure could signal violations of international law. The ongoing extreme drought, which has gripped the region for over three years, compounds the environmental crises affecting water availability and agricultural sustainability.
As conflicts persist, overseas legal experts call for investigations into possible war crimes related to these military actions, while Turkish officials maintain they adhere to international laws and have attributed the water crisis to climate factors rather than military aggression. Meanwhile, communities in Hassakeh feel increasingly abandoned as they confront their struggle for the basic necessity of water.
