Shelling, blockade damage infrastructure in Aleppo's Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh

The attacks and indiscriminate shelling by factions affiliated with the transitional government, which targeted the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods on December 22, caused severe damage to electricity and water networks.

Despite the passage of nearly ten days since the damage caused by the shelling, the People’s Municipality in the two neighborhoods has been unable to repair what was destroyed. This is due to the continued imposition of a tight siege by the transitional government on residents of the neighborhoods, preventing the entry of fuel as well as materials needed for construction and repairs.

Damage to Electricity Networks

Mohammad Hussein, the administrator in the Electricity Committee of the People’s Municipality, said in a special interview with our agency that the indiscriminate shelling by transitional government factions, using various heavy weapons, caused a complete cutoff of electricity supplied from the Aleppo General Electricity Company.

Hussein noted that the four feeders at al-Shaqif Power Station, which supply Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh, suffered severe damage due to shelling. In addition, 15 high-voltage lines (20,000 KVA), six lines around the Castello Road, six lines on the Jandoul Roundabout Road, and three lines on the Aleppo Swimming Pool Highway were cut.

He stressed that repairing this damage requires coordination with the Aleppo General Electricity Company, as most of the damaged points are located around the two neighborhoods, in addition to allowing the passage of necessary repair equipment and materials—something that is still being obstructed by checkpoints of factions affiliated with the transitional government.

As for damage to the internal network within the neighborhoods, Hussein said that emergency committees had repaired all internal lines and damage completely, pointing out that the main problem currently lies in restoring the main supply lines.

Emergency Solutions for Water Networks Destroyed by Shelling

For his part, Mohammad Mahli, an administrator in the Water Committee, said that the continuous shelling of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh caused serious damage to the water network, which was already worn out, especially in the western section of Sheikh Maqsoud.

Mahli confirmed that the use of missiles and tanks in shelling the neighborhoods led to the destruction of many water culverts, as well as several underground water lines, putting them out of service. This resulted in water cuts affecting around 400 homes across 20 streets, mostly in the western part of Sheikh Maqsoud.

He explained that the emergency measures taken by Water Committee teams helped secure water and avoid many problems, but described these measures as temporary solutions, especially given the continued prevention of materials needed to rehabilitate the water networks in both neighborhoods.

In conclusion, Mohammad Mahli called for an end to repeated attacks against the residents of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh, and for allowing the entry of materials needed to repair the damage caused by shelling and siege, stressing that access to water networks is a non-negotiable right for residents.

It is worth noting that the Education Committee in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods closed all 13 schools affiliated with the Autonomous Democratic Administration and those jointly run with the transitional government on December 30, due to the continued siege, which led to a lack of heating resources in these schools.

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ANHA