North and East Syria officials call on International Coalition to pressure Turkey to restart Alouk Water Station

HASAKAH, Syria — Weeks after Turkey stopped pumping water from the Alouk Water Station in occupied Rish Ayno (Ras al-Ayn) to Hasakah in North and East Syria, calls have increased for the international community, especially the U.S., to pressure Turkey to end its policy of weaponizing water.

Co-Chair of the Hasakah Water Directorate Sozdar Ahmed told representatives of the U.S.-led International Coalition during a meeting that they must do more to force Turkey to restart pumping operations at Alouk.

Mrs. Ahmed said that a civil affairs delegation of the Coalition met today with Arab tribal elders in Hasakah, in addition to the Co-Chair of the Municipal and Environment Committee in Hasakah, to address several topics of interest to civilians in the region.

For its part, the Coalition delegation was briefed on the mechanism of dealing with various water sources, which requires examination to determine the validity of these waters for human uses.

The Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAA) of North and East Syria representative demanded the operation of 20 wells and four pumps at Alouk to ensure that water reaches Hasakah and its countryside. According to the official, residents of Hasakah and its countryside have been relying on unsterilized well water since the shutoff which has negatively affected their health.

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According to the Rojava Information Center (RIC), indirect talks between Turkey and the DAA — represented by Russia — are being held over the issue of Alouk.

“According to unconfirmed reports, the Turkish side asks for 50MW of electricity to be provided by NES in order for 14 underground wells and 6 water pumps to function,” wrote RIC via Twitter. “AANES officials point out that all of Jazeera region only gets 20MW & that the demands are impossible to meet.”

Renewed talks between Turkey & Russia are underway at Alouk water station, near occupied Serekaniye. The Russian side attended on behalf of the AANES, in order for electricity from NES to reach the station & be able to once again pump water to Heseke.

— Rojava Information Center (@RojavaIC) July 14, 2021