Turkey closes livelihoods' door in al-Tabqa peoples' face

ASMAHAN OMAR / AL-TABQA

Turkey continues to reserve the waters of Euphrates, causing a significant reduction in the river's level on Syrian side, at a time when most of the population has no livelihood other than agriculture along Euphrates River.

The water level in the Euphrates Lake formed behind Euphrates dam in al-Tabqa city fell to about 2.5 meters.

The decline has become noticeable, contributing to farmers' growing concern about their only source of livelihood.

Amid these fears, women in al-Jarniah the northwestern town of al-Tabqa began to cultivate cotton after plowing the land and cutting it into marshes.

What makes the situation even more complicated for farmers is the cotton’s need for intensive irrigation for about 6 months until harvest time in autumn, amid a continuous decline in the level of Euphrates Lake, the main source on which farmers depend on watering their crops.

"We started to grow cotton and Turkish state cut off the water, now we are planting but relying on God, the water is very scarce, we have also planted wheat, but there is no water for irrigation, this is our livelihood door" Ahmed al-Sheikh, farmer in al-Zarejiah village said.

"We planted cotton, we risk with this agriculture because of the lack of water, we also planted vegetables and fruits and risked in planting them because we have no way but agriculture, this is the water see how it gradually decreases, he said.

The Agriculture Directorate in Democratic Civil Administration of al-Tabqa city has previously confirmed that the continuation of Turkish state in the cutting of water will lead to corruption this year's crop amid fears of deterioration of the conditions of farmers living.

(H/S)

ANHA