Repeated cuts of the Alok Station’s water place the life of about 600,000 persons within the range of imminent danger and hamper efforts at combating Covid-19
On March 21, 2020, the Turkish forces, in control of the Alok Water Station, have once again interrupted water supplies, usually provided to about 600,000 persons who live in areas in Northeastern Syria—the most recent cut in a series, since the last had happened on February 24, 2020.
The water station, located in the eastern countryside of the city of Ras al-Ayn/Sari Kani, is the major source used by the residents of the following areas, al-Hasakah, Tal Tmer, al-Hawl and al-Arishah camps, among others. The repeated interruption of potable water service is coercing the residents to rely on unsafe water resources, which in turn puts their lives on the line despite the local efforts at combating the novel coronavirus— Covid-19.
This is not the first time that residents of these areas are deprived of access to the Alok Station’s water, for the shelling, conducted by the Turkish forces and which corresponded to the military operations in October 2020, has rendered the station out of service, as the water stopped being pumped after the station’s building and the cables providing it with power were a target of several mortars.
The Alok Water Station, where water is stored and pumped, contains 30 wells, with a capacity to provide about 175,000 square meters of water a day. Denying hundreds of thousands of people access to water is denying them a basic source of protection against Covid-19, given that handwashing is a fundamental means in shielding oneself of the virus.
Through this statement, the signatory organizations condemn the repeated and intentional interruption of the Alok Station’s water services ordained by the Turkish Government and stress that this intentional denial of water that the residents of these areas are suffering is a blatant violation of the International Humanitarian Law and is a war crime. This deprivation is also a breach of the right of Northeastern Syria’s population to safe and potable water. The signatories, thus, call on the United Nations/UN, the World Health Organization/WHO, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund/UNICEF, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs/UNOCHA, as well as the U.S. Government and the European Union to
Impose pressure on the Turkish Government to allow providing water to areas deprived of it immediately and urgently and to guarantee that no further water interruption is to happen under any pretext;
To neutralize the Alok Water Station of the political and military conflicts and to assign its administration to an independent specialized civilian team, under international supervision and surveillance, as well as prevent the Turkish forces from using the station for blackmail;
To make sure that all the residents in Northeastern Syria will have equal access to water resources without discrimination of any kind.
Signatory Organizations:
ADEL Center for Human Rights
AFRIN Post – Media Network
AL- HASAKA Organization for Relief and Development
AL-SHAM Center for Democratic Studies for Human Rights
Analysis and Strategic Study Organization (ASO)
ARAS Charity Association
ASHNA for Development
Balsam Center for Health Education
Basmet Amal
BUKRA AHLA Association for Development and Relief
Civil Society Platform in North East Syria
Civil Youth Community in Hassakeh
DOZ International
Espoir Afrin Association
EZDINA Foundation
GAV for Relief and Development
HEVY For Relief And Development
Human Rights Organizations in AL Jazeera
Human Rights Organizations in Farat
Jomard Charity
JUDY Association for Development and Relief
Kurdish Committee for Human Rights – Observer
Kurdish Legal Committee
MITAN Center to Revive Civil Society
Peace Leaders Network
PÊL- Civil Waves
Qanadil Alamal Association
ROJ KAR for Relief and Development
Rojava Organizations for Relief and Development
SARA Organization To Combat Violence Against Women
Shamal Charity Association
Shams Organization for Rehabilitation and Development
SHAR for Development
SHARE for Community Development
SILAVA Center for Civil Activities
SOZ Association for Relief and Development
SWAAEID for Development
Syriac Cross Organization for Relief & Development
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
Syrians for Truth and Justice-STJ
Tal Abyad Civil Society Forum
TEVNA KURDI
The Alliance Syrian Women to activate Security Council Resolution 1325 in Syria
The Syria Campaign
The Syrian Institution for Care of Widows and Orphans Rights (IC.W.O.SY)
The Syrian Woman Council
Türkmen Derneği
Violations Documentation Center in Northeast Syria – VDC-NES
XUNAV Association for Relief and Development
