Turkish Air Strikes in Syria Disrupt Water Supply for One Million

Air strikes conducted by Turkey in the arid north-east region of Syria have deprived over a million individuals of electricity and water, an action that legal experts suggest could constitute a breach of international law. Data compiled by the BBC World Service indicates that Turkey executed over 100 assaults targeting oil fields, gas facilities, and power stations within the Kurdish-controlled Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) from October 2019 to January 2024. These assaults have intensified the humanitarian emergency in an area already grappling with a protracted civil war and a severe four-year drought made worse by climate change. Although water supplies were already limited, strikes against electricity infrastructure in October of the previous year caused a power outage at the primary water station in Alouk, which has remained inoperable since. During two separate visits, BBC reporters observed residents facing significant difficulties in obtaining water. Turkey stated its actions were aimed at the “sources of income and capabilities” of Kurdish separatist organizations it designates as terrorists. The country also noted the widely recognized drought in the area, asserting that inadequate water management and neglected infrastructure had exacerbated the situation. The AANES has previously leveled an accusation against Turkey, claiming it seeks to “destroy our people’s existence”. In Hassakeh province, over a million residents who formerly received their water from Alouk now depend on water deliveries sourced from approximately 12 miles (20km) distant. Daily