Turkey uses drinking water to politically pressurize Autonomous Administration

The decline in the water level of the Euphrates River more than two months ago affected the agricultural sector, which was meeting the needs of the local markets in northern and eastern Syria for vegetables to a large extent, because a large part of farmers depend on the water of the Euphrates River to irrigate their crops, in addition to relying on electricity, which supply hours to the area decreased due to the low water level.

Turkey began reducing the waters of the Euphrates River since January 27, which led to a significant decline in the water level of the Euphrates River along its extension into Syrian territory.

On this issue, the agricultural engineer, Mahmoud Al-Issa, explained that Turkey's lowering of the water level had a negative impact on the reality of agriculture in the Euphrates Basin, which is considered the main resource in improving and developing the level of agriculture.

He added, "The decrease in water has negatively affected agricultural areas, which are expected to be good and sufficient to meet the needs of the local markets, causing an increase in the prices of vegetables within the markets, especially in light of the closure of the crossings by the Damascus government."

He explained that the decrease in the water level has caused an increase in agricultural production costs for farmers, from the requirements of agriculture, such as an increase in the length of irrigation pipes, and an increase in fuel consumption as a result of electricity cuts related to the water level, especially the villages adjacent to the Euphrates River, which is the artery that feeds all crops in the region, whether they are Summer or winter.

For her part, the co-chair of the Electricity Corporation in Manbij, Maha Haj Ali, said that the Turkish goal is to create a real drought in the regions of northeastern Syria, noting that it is not the first time that the Turkish state cuts off water from the Syrian lands, in light of the increasing demand for water during high temperatures.

Maha Haj Ali continued her speech, "The demand for water has increased in order to generate electricity, and the people's suffering has increased due to the shortage of hours of electricity supply, as it decreased by approximately 3 hours per day for each exit, after it was feeding at least for 10 hours before the water level decreased, and with the decrease of the water level, the ability to generate electricity has lessened. "

Maha asserted that the Turkish state declares, through cutting off the water of the Euphrates River, a "water war" targeting the Syrian people, and this aggression by the Turkish state violates all agreements and treaties, especially the 1987 agreement between Turkey and Syria, which stipulates sharing the water of the Euphrates River and allowing the flow of 500 cubic meters per second.

Maha concluded her speech by noting that Turkey has repeatedly used the Euphrates River card for political pressure to achieve political and other gains at the expense of the Syrian people, especially the Euphrates River, which is of strategic importance to three main Syrian cities, such as Manbij, Raqqa, and Deir Ezzor, which has a great weight in northern Syria which are in dire need to use the water of the Euphrates for agriculture and to generate electricity.

J.O

ANHA

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