Afrin River dries up due to Turkey’s systematic policies

The Afrin River is suffering from near-total dryness as a result of Turkey’s systematic policy of building dams on its territory, which has significantly reduced the flow of water into Syrian lands.

3 July, 2025 10:28

NEWSDESK

The "Violations Documentation Center" (VDC) in Syria stated that the Afrin River, once a lifeline for hundreds of villages in northwestern Syria, is now nearly dry due to Turkey’s ongoing dam construction policies, which have severely curtailed the river’s flow into Syria.

The center highlighted that the most prominent of these dams are “Yazgak” and “Qara Qoyun,” which have caused the river’s water to cease flowing in recent months.

This drought has led to the destruction of dozens of hectares of agricultural land, the disruption of drinking water supplies in several villages, livestock deaths, and the displacement of many families in search of alternative resources.

The center stressed that what is happening is not a “natural phenomenon,” but rather a violation of human and environmental rights, amid the absence of any effective international action or official stance from Syria’s transitional government. It warned of a long-term disaster that could impact future generations.

A-H

ANHA