Residents of Hasakah Canton in North and East Syria launch social media campaign after 20 days without running water

HASAKAH, Syria — After 20 days without water from the Alouk pumping station, located in Turkish-occupied territory outside Rish Ayno (Ras al-Ayn), the people of the Hasakah city launched a social media campaign to voice their suffering to the international community.

The social media campaign included dozens of phrases that expressed the suffering of the residents who were tired of the repeated water cuts by Turkey and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA). They appealed to major world powers and the international community to intervene, otherwise, a humanitarian catastrophe will inevitably take place.

One milion residents in Hasakah are parched for the last month by Turkey and its Jihadist Syrian groups. Rather than helping to contain the spread of COVID-19, the Turkish government is increasing mortality risk from dehydration. People will die from thirst

— Elham Ahmad (@ElhamAhmadSDC) August 20, 2020

The water pumped from Alouk has been repeatedly shutoff by Turkish forces.

In a press statement made back in March, UNICEF called for an end to the disruptions of the water supply from Alouk, warning of a humanitarian crisis in the spread of the coronavirus:

“The interruption of water supply during the current efforts to curb the spread of the Coronavirus disease puts children and families at unacceptable risk. Handwashing with soap is critical in the fight against COVID-19.

The station is the main source of water for around 460,000 people in al-Hasskeh city, Tal Tamer and the al-Hol and Areesha camps. Uninterrupted, reliable access to safe water is essential to ensure children and families in the area don’t have to resort to unsafe water sources.”

To help alleviate the water shortage, the local administration of Hasakah city has planned a series of wells to be dug throughout the city. In April, however, the project had to be put on hold due to the coronavirus.

Co-Chair of Hasakah Water Directorate Sozdar Ahmed announced that 25 out of 50 wells being dug in Al-Hamma Station are to be tested for safety. “We need 72 hours to supply the city and its countryside with water,” she continued, indicating that the wells have already begun pumping water, but it would take three days to pump clean drinking water.

“The remaining 25 wells will soon be in service after they are completely equipped,” Ahmed added.

Turkey’s attempts to impose its will on the people of North and East Syria through water deprivation does not stop at the shutting-off of Alouk.

By restricting the flow through its upstream dams, Turkey has severely reduced the amount of water flowing in the Euphrates River to drought-like levels.