Al-Khabour smell: a problem awaiting solution

AL-HASAKAH

The length of al-Khabour River is 320 km, which springs from southeastern Turkey and enters North Syria from Serê Kaniyê district, north of al-Hasakah city, and is merged with Jagjak River and then pour into the Euphrates River.

Sewage water accumulates in al-Hasakah city in al-Khabour River, causing unpleasant odor that disturbs the neighborhood's inhabitants, not to mention the spread of insects and pests.

The main reason for this problem is attributed to the Justice and Development Government’s restraint of water during summer, which in turn causes the accumulation of sewage and the spread of smells, insects and pests.

"The smell of al-Khabour River bothers us very much, in the evening, we cannot sit on the balcony of our house because of insects, including mosquitoes," said resident Aitedal Eid Mohammed.

Sobhi 'Aliawi said: "For years, the people of Guayran have been suffering from the smell, especially in summer because of the lack of running water

"We spray insecticides 4 times a month, the problem of al-Khabour River has no solution other than Turkey opening the dam so that the water can be removed until the smell is eliminated, but the Turkish state is cutting off the water, so that the sewage is collected, said Jwanan Omar, the administrator in Health section in the People's Municipality. 

Engineer Mohammed al-Aswad, administrator of the Water Resources Department, said: "In winter there is rainwater, in summer, rainwater dries up, sewage is collected for the entire city of al-Hasakah and there is no water to pay for it.

"The solution is to allocate a place to drain the sewage outside the city to get rid of al-Khabour's smell, but our capabilities are limited, and the solution is the water to run through," he said.

H/S

ANHA