Severe water crisis exacerbates the Suffering Serêkaniyê IDPs amid calls for safe return

Under unprecedented high temperatures, forcibly displaced residents from the occupied city of Serêkaniyê since 2019, currently residing in the Serêkaniyê camp in Hasakah city, Jazira canton, are enduring increasingly difficult humanitarian conditions. This is exacerbated by a severe shortage of water  a vital resource especially in such harsh climatic conditions.

Despite promises to improve services for approximately 15,500 forcibly displaced people through a water network extension project, the displaced confirmed that the project has failed to achieve its goal and has instead increased their suffering. Water reaches some families, while others are deprived, with no comprehensive solution in sight.

"We live without the basics of life, foremost of which is water."

Yusuf Abdo, a 71-year-old man, sits in front of his tent under the blazing sun and says, "We have been here for six years, relying on water trucks all this time. This year, the water network was extended inside the camp, but it has failed miserably. Some receive water; others receive nothing."

He adds, "We suffer from the intense heat and cannot sleep after sunrise. We no longer know what to do. We lack the simplest necessities of life, mainly water." He concludes, "We want to return to our cities. We can no longer bear staying under these tents and enduring this hardship."

"Our children are at risk due to water scarcity and heat."

Salwa Muslim, a forcibly displaced woman, spoke about the harsh conditions: "We face great difficulties due to the high temperatures. We cannot operate cooling devices because of water scarcity. Today, the entire camp is suffering from this crisis."

She added, "We search all over the camp for water. The new project to extend the water network has proven to be a failure. Some receive limited amounts; others get nothing."

She concluded by saying, "Our children are at risk under these hot conditions and water shortages. We urgently demand the camp administration provide water and electricity."

She also called for a safe return to their city to end this ongoing suffering.

"We are trying to find solutions, but the problem is complex."

In response to criticism, Abdul Razzaq Muhammad, co-chair of the Serêkaniyê camp council, said, "We fully understand the extent of suffering among the camp residents, especially with the high temperatures and their urgent need for water. Previously, organizations supplied water via trucks, which was sufficient and posed no major issues."

He added, "A water network extension project was launched by some organizations. During our studies, we warned that it might bring us back to square one, and indeed, implementation issues emerged where water reaches some sectors but not others."

Muhammad pointed out, "The allocated amount per person is 50 liters daily. We have been holding meetings with the responsible organization to overcome the crisis. We agreed to divide the camp into two sectors and supply water every other day, but this plan has only solved 20% of the problem."

He concluded, "We are doing our best to alleviate the residents' suffering, but the matter requires everyone's cooperation. There are significant abuses in water usage, with some residents taking more than their share, depriving others of their rights.

ANHA