SORGUL ŞÊXO

 Zirgan (Abu Rasin)- War and conflict affect not only human beings but also the ecosystem. The methods used in war and conflict cause environmental pollution and destruction of biodiversity.

The occupying Turkish state has intensified its attacks on North and East Syria, killing, injuring civilians and displacing thousands. The Turkish state keeps committing crimes against humanity and nature by using all kinds of warfare methods and tools.

240,000 acres of land under occupation

According to the agricultural institutions in the town of Zirgan, located in the north-western countryside of Hasakah, the town has 400,000 acres of agricultural land. Out of 400,000 acres, 160,000 agricultural land is controlled by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) and other agricultural land is under occupation. 582 water wells in the town are used by farmers, who have planted 74,000 acres of wheat and 20,000 acres of broad beans and chickpeas and 10,000 acres of coriander. About 100 water wells in the town are unusable due to both of the Turkish attacks in the last two years and the earthquake that occurred on February 6, 2023.

“The ongoing Turkish attacks also affect agriculture,” said the farmers in the town.

 The ongoing Turkish attacks have displaced many farmers from the village of Um Hermela, including Şaha Mihemed. “Because of the ongoing bombardment, we had to leave our village by taking our chickens and cows with us,” Şaha Mihemed told NuJINHA. “We had our own agricultural land in the village but now we have nothing.”

Our agricultural land is destroyed and their nature is polluted due to the bombardment, Şaha Mihemed emphasized. “We want to return to our home, our village. We demand the end of the Turkish attacks in order to return to our home safety. We want to produce again because production means life.”

‘Our food security is at risk’

Hediya El-Ibêd, a farmer from the Mergeda village of Hasakah, has lived in Zirgan for four years. “Our agricultural land is damaged by the Turkish attacks. Two of my cows were injured and two of my goats were killed in the Turkish attacks,” Hediya El-Ibêd told NuJINHA. “Our food security is at risk due to the Turkish attacks because they damage crops.”

Call on environmental organizations

Hediya El-Ibêd also called on environmental organizations to raise their voices against the Turkish attacks and protect their nature. “We must protect the agricultural land from the Turkish attacks together.”