Turkey turns Khabur River in North and East Syria into hotbed of disease

TEL TAMR, Syria — Turkish aggressive towards North and East Syria has not only caused widespread destruction and displacement, but has turned the Khabur River, the central artery of the predominantly Syriac–Assyrian Khabur River Valley, into a breeding ground for disease.

Years before the invasion, Turkey cut off the waters of the Khabur River, all but drying it up. What little water remains in the river became a suitable environment for the leishmaniasis, according to SuroyoTV correspondent in the town of Tel Tamr, Ahmed Samila.

Tel Tamr is one of the smallest towns in North and East Syria and is currently one of the focal points along the line of contact between the Turkish occupation and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). As a result, civilian property and infrastructure have been repeatedly damaged, electricity and water frequently cut off.

Now, dozens of cases of leishmaniasis are seen daily by the Martyr Likrin Hospital in Tel Tamr.

Leishmaniasis infects humans via a parasite found in sandflies and causes local skin infections that can turn into a severe systemic disease.