Water Crisis in Tel Tamr: Dozens poisoned as Turkey again cuts off supply from Alouk Pumping Station

TEL TAMR, Syria — The ongoing Turkish disruption of water from the Alouk Pumping Station in the Hasakah countryside of North and East Syria has resulted in numerous cases of poisoning among Tel Tamr residents, particularly children, due to drinking unsafe water from water tanks.

A medical source in Tel Tamr, speaking to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), confirmed that the lack of sterilization of water tanks supplying the area has led to dozens of poisoning cases. Symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, and loss of appetite.

The source emphasized the need for immediate action, urging the relevant authorities to ensure the proper sterilization of water tanks before distribution. Additionally, there is a call for increased pressure on Turkey to resume water flow from Alouk to areas governed by the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Region of North and East Syria (DAARNES).

“Civilians must be left out of the conflict, and water must not be weaponized,” the source added.

Since Turkey’s occupation of Rish Ayno (Ras al-Ayn) in 2019, Turkish forces have used various methods to target the local population, including cutting off water supplies to over one and a half million people in Hasakah and its surrounding areas.