Afrinpost
Yesterday, Friday, 49 Syrian human rights, legal and media organizations issued a statement to the public opinion, condemning the Turkish occupation and its armed militants of the Islamic militia affiliated to the Muslim Brotherhood, using water as a means of war against the residents and components of the “self-administration areas” in northern Syria, which was signed by Afrinpost network as well.
The statement text reads as follows:
(Once again, on 21 March 2020, the Turkish forces controlling the Aluk Water Station cut off water from about 600,000 people living in northeastern Syria, after repeated cuts, the last of which occurred on February 24, 2020.
The station located in the eastern countryside of Ras Al-Ain / Sre Kanieh is the main source of water for the inhabitants of cities: Al-Hasakeh, Tel Tamr, Al-Houl, Al-Arishah, Washu Kani and other regions depend on, and the repetition of the cessation of pumping drinking water drives the population to unsafe water sources, which constituted a serious risk to their lives in light of local efforts to tackle the Coronavirus (Covid 19).
This is not the first time that residents have been deprived of access to water sources from the Aluk station. The bombing of Turkish forces during the military operations during the month of October 2019 stopped pumping water from the station, after the building of the station was subjected to several shells, and others hit the power lines feeding it.
The “Alok” station for collecting and pumping water contains 30 wells, with a capacity to pump about 175,000 cubic meters per day, and that depriving hundreds of thousands of people of water means depriving them of a basic resource to protect themselves from the Coronavirus, as washing hands with soap is very important to fight the virus .
The organizations signing this statement condemn this repeated and deliberate cut of water pumping from the “Aluk” station by the Turkish government and remember that this deliberate deprivation of water for the population constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and constitutes a war crime, and a violation of the basic rights of all residents of northeastern Syria to obtain water for drinking and use, and calls on the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the government of the United States of America and the European Union:
- Pressure the Turkish government to allow the water to be pumped back to the deprived areas immediately and urgently, and to ensure that the cuts are not repeated under any pretext 2. Neutralizing the “Aluk” water station from political and military conflicts and subjecting its management to a specialized and independent civilian team, under international supervision and control, and to stop the Turkish forces from using them as blackmail.
3. Ensure that all residents of the north-east of Syria benefit from water resources fairly, without discrimination of any kind.
The Signatory organizations:
1. “GAV” for relief and development
2. Basmet Amal
3.Syrian Women Alliance to activate Security Council Resolution 1325 in Syria
4. Teh Vana Kurd
5. Aras Charitable Society
6. Turkmen Society
7. Amal Afrin Society
8. Bukra Ahla Society for Relief and Development
9. Judy Association for Development and Relief
10. Gomard Charitable Society
11. Khunaf Society for Relief and Development
12. Suz Society for Relief, Development and Protection
13.North Charitable Society
14. Kanadil Al-Amal Association
15.Campaign for Syria
16. Roj Kar for Development and Relief
17. Syrians for truth and justice
18. Afrinpost News Network
19. Peace Leaders Network
20. Kurdish Committee for Human Rights – Monitor
21. Syrian Women’s Council
22. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
23. Aso Center for Consulting and Strategic Studies
24. Al-Sham Center for Democratic Studies for Human Rights
25. Balsam Health Education Center
26. Violations Documentation Center in northern Syria
27. Sulafa Center for Civil Activities
28. Justice Center for Human Rights
29. Mitan Center for the Revival of Civil Society
30. Tel Abyad forum for civil society
31. Civil society institutions platform in northeastern Syria
32. “SHAR” community development organization
33. Ashna Development Organization
34. Al-Hasakah Organization for Relief and Development
35. Syriac Cross Organization for Relief and Development
36. Bel Organization – Civil Waves
37. Human Rights Organization in Al-Jazireh
38. Human Rights Organization in the Euphrates
39. DOZ
40. Rojava Relief and Development Organization
41. Sara Organization Against Violence Against Women
42. Sawaed Development Organization
43. Char Development Organization
44. Civil Society Youth Organization in Hasaka
45. Shams Organization for Rehabilitation and Development
46. Hevi Relief and Development
47. Syrian Foundation for the Care of the Rights of Widows and Orphans
48. Ezdina Foundation for Media and Jurist
49. Kurdish Legal Authority
