​​​​​​​Turkey continues to cut off Euphrates water ... thirst threatens people

The Turkish state is still withholding Syria's share of the Euphrates since January 27 of this year, while it pumps very small quantities of no more than 200 cubic meters per second.

This led to the receding of the water, a significant decrease in its level in the course of the river, and a significant decrease in the level of lakes and dams built on its course to more than 5 vertical meters.

The agreement between Turkey, Syria and Iraq in 1987 stipulates that Turkey will pump the Euphrates water into the Syrian territories at a quantity of 500 cubic meters per second, and the Iraqi side share is 60% of that amount.

The Autonomous Administration in North and East of (AANES) Syria has warned of a humanitarian catastrophe in an area that includes more than 5 million people, who depend on the Euphrates River for their drinking water, irrigation and electricity production.

 Muhammad Tarboush, from the Dam Administration in North and East Syria, said during a previous statement to ANHA agency, "We are facing a real catastrophe with regard to drinking water, because the low level of the river has led to pollution of water, leading to dangerous diseases such as cholera that usually common in the summer, and most of the major cities in north and east Syria depend on the Euphrates River in drinking water.

More than 30 stations are out of service and others operate at half capacity

In the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor

More than 10 water purification stations are out of service, and more than 226,000 people are deprived of drinking water.

“The main Hajin water plant, which operates with a production capacity of 160 cubic meters per hour, with a branch network of more than 20 km, has been out of service, while 80 thousand people depend on this station to provide water.

The Al-Susah water plant operates with a capacity of 160 cubic meters per hour

Its network length of 8 km was also out of service and deprived 45,000 people of drinking water.

The Abu Al-Hassan plant also operates with a capacity of 160 cubic meters per hour and 25 km network and it feeds 25 thousand people.

Al-Sha`fa Water Station, which operates with a production capacity of 160 cubic meters per hour and network is 30 km and feeds 20 thousand people.

Al Kashmah Water Station, which operates with a production capacity of 160 cubic meters per hour, the length of the network is 30 km and feeds 23 thousand people.

Al-Bu Badran Water Station, 160 cubic meters capacity and network is 15 km and feeding 18 thousand people.

Al Safafna Water Station, which operates with a production capacity of 160 cubic meters, the length of the network is 10 km and feeds 15 thousand people.

 Al-Raqqa region

 There are 36 water stations in it, most of which are out of service, and the others are threatened with exit if the water level continues to drop, and about 200,000 people are deprived of drinking water.

 In the western line, Hawa al-Hawa stations were completely out of service, while Hawija Faraj, al-Yamamah farm, and al-Salhabiyya al-Sharqiya station were operating at half their capacity, threatening to go out of service if the water level decreased further.

In the northern countryside, the two stations of Al-Hashem and Al-Maslakh, which are located in the northeast of the city, are operating at half their capacity, after lengthening the canals and installing connections for pumps to deliver water from places farther from what used to be withdrawn.

In the southern countryside, the station of Al-Uqirishi was completely out of service.

In the eastern countryside, Al Karama station is also operating at half capacity, while a new station is completely out of service.

Al-Shaher station, 70% of it was out of service, while Al-Rayyash station operates in Al-Hos line, only 55%.

The reason for the continued operation of some stations is due to the station management taking some measures in order to provide water to the people, by connecting long connections to water pumps and obtaining water from places farther from what was being withdrawn from them, due to the decay of water.

The situation is no different in the Tabqa region

Seven water stations were completely out of service, threatening the lives of more than 114,000 people, depriving them of drinking water.

According to the information reported by the Municipalities Committee in the Tabqa region, the Tawi station and Shams al-Din station, which serve the sub-districts of Al-Jarniya, Tal Othman, Shams al-Din and the villages affiliated to it, exceeding 90 villages and irrigate nearly 49,000 people, permanently out of service.

Meanwhile, the Jaabar station, which serves the villages of Jaabar and Al-Mahmoudli, and narrates 20,000 people, has also completely stopped operating.

Ayed station, which serves the neighborhoods of Ayed, the chalets, and the radio station in the west of the city of Tabqa, and gives drink for 15,000 people, has become out of service.

Al-Karain station, which serves Al-Kreen, Abu Hurairah, Al-Musharafa, and gives drink to 5 thousand people, is out of service.

The bulldozer station, which is considered as a support line to the city and pumps 560 cubic meters per hour, is out of service.

The Sahel station, which serves the Sahel, Abu Qabei, Al Barouda, and Al Bou Rajab, and gives drink for about 15,000 people, has also stopped working.

Meanwhile, the Albu Assi station is partially operating, serving 10,000 people, and pumping water to the villages of “Rjm al-Ghazal - Al-Bu Asi”.

In Kobane

More than two months ago, two water stations were permanently out of service, while most of the wells, even the spare ones that are relied on when necessary, were out of service.

 And the river's water has reached its lowest levels, and been cut off, so far, for 83 villages in Kobani Province, and this came during a statement by the administrator in the Water Directorate of Kobani Province, Fahd Muhammad, to ANHA agency.

Popular demands of international pressure on Turkey

On May 5, dozens of people from the city of Tabqa and its countryside organized a gathering on the bank of the Euphrates River, to protest against the confinement of river water by the Turkish state, and demanded the international community to pressure Turkey to release Syria's share of the river’s water.

While the Tabqa water unit is currently working on installing horizontal pumps, as solutions that are considered emergency, if the level continues to drop.

In areas where the stations are stopping, the concerned authorities are working to provide the residents with water through tanks designated for this purpose, while some residents also rely on purchasing water from civilian tanks.

(A)

ANHA