Turkey continues to prevent water flow to Hasakah and Tel Tamr, refuses all attempts at mediation

HASAKAH, Syria – Occupying Turkish forces and their allies, the Syrian National Army (SNA), a collection of militias, including several espousing Islamist ideologies, continue to deprive the populations of Hasakah and Tel Tamr in northeastern Syria of drinking water.

For the fourth straight day, the Turkish occupation forces have kept the Alouk water station in the Rish Ayno (Ras al-Ayn) countryside from opperating, depriving nearly half-a-million civilians of drinking water.

Alouk water station services Hasakah city, the town of Tel Tamr, and the surrounding areas, including the many camps for displaced people in the region.

The intentional targeting of water supplies is considered a war crime.

The Turkish occupation has rejected all attempts at mediation aiming to return the employees of Alouk station to their work. The shutting down of Alouk station has worsened an already precarious water crisis in Jazira Region.

On Monday, Turkish occupation forces had entered Alouk station and forced the employees of the station to stop pumping water and leave.

Maintenance crews are still working at the Al-Hama water station in order to compensate for the closure of Alouk station.

The Water Bureau of Hasakah also explained that the water in the reservoirs was allocated to hospitals and bakeries of the city and its countryside. In addition, the Bureau has asked the United Nations, International Committee of the Red Cross, and Russia to intervene in order to restart Alouk station.

When still under control of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, Alouk water station was repeatedly targeted by Turkish artillery. One instance occurring back in 2017.