DELAL REMEZAN

Hasakah- The Turkish state has stopped the Alouk water station, a crucial source of drinking water for the people of Hasakah, from pumping water since Serêkanîyê (Ras al-Ayn) was occupied by the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions in 2019. Due to the ongoing water outages, the Water Directorate of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) dug water wells for the residents of Hasakah and displaced people living in camps on June 3, 2023.

‘Water has been shut off for more than 10 months’

“The Turkish state has been stopping the station from pumping water since it occupied Serêkanîyê,” said Fatima Al-Damen, Co-chair of the Water Directorate of AANES in Hasakah. “It uses water as a weapon against the people living in Hasakah. Water has been shut off for more than 10 months.”

‘The people of Hasakah have become dependent on water wells’

The people of the city have become dependent on water wells in the village of Shumuka and water tank trucks, Fatima Al-Damen noted, stressing that water wells and water tank trucks cannot meet the growing need for water. “Water supplied from water wells is undrinkable, being used only for washing clothes or dishes. Most people buy drinking water from water tank trucks but they are dirty.”

‘We distribute water every morning’

The Water Directorate has nearly 64 water tankers and civilians have nearly 800 water tankers; however, they are insufficient to meet the water needs of the people. “Water obtained from unknown sources leads to intestinal problems and skin diseases among people. As the Water Directorate, we have taken urgent steps to meet the water needs of the people. We distribute drinking water to people every morning through communes. We also distribute water to institutions providing services to people, schools and hospitals. However, available water is insufficient for everyone. The AANES has been working on a project to dig more water wells.”

‘We have been suffering from water outages for five years’

Tufaha Al-Khalifa, a resident of Hasakah, told NuJINHA that they have been suffering from water outages for five years. “We cannot buy drinking water from water tank trucks because it is very expensive. We demand a radical solution to the ongoing water outages in the city. I call on humanitarian organizations to take urgent action to provide drinking water to the people.”