Alouk station in the eyes of the Syrian NGOs

49 Syrian civil society organizations working in North-East Syria have condemned Turkey’s deliberate cutoff of water from Alouk Station, which poses a flagrant threat to hundreds of thousands of people in North and East Syria.

On March 21, Turkish forces cut off water from the Alouk station located in the eastern countryside of Ras al-Ain / Serekaniye, and this is not the first time that the forces cut off the water, as the water cut is repeated with political blackmail by Turkey and the Syrian opposition factions that support it.

This condemnation came by the organizations, because the station is of great importance to people in several cities and towns in North and East Syria, including the city of Hasakah and its countryside and the town of Tel Temir and its countryside, in addition to the camps located in those areas, as the capacity of the Alouk station can pump approximately 175 thousand Cubic meters per day and also contains 30 wells.

Bassam Al-Ahmad, executive director of the Syrians for Truth and Justice Organization, told ASO News Network that “Syrians for Truth and Justice”, whom is the executive director, was among the organizations that condemned cutting water to hundreds of thousands of people, which carried out by the Turkish forces.
Al-Ahmad added, “The aim of the condemnation is to find ways to pressure the international community on Turkey to pump water again to the people in the region.”

“The results of cutting the water were disastrous for the people, especially in light of the fear of the spread of the Corona pandemic, which leaves people unable to maintain personal hygiene,” Al-Ahmad added.
Al-Ahmad explains that all the organizations that condemned the water cuts have called on the United Nations, UNICEF, WHO and the High Commissioner for Human Rights to pressure the Turkish government to allow the water to be pumped back to the deprived areas in an immediate and urgent manner, and to ensure that the cuts are not repeated under any pretext. And also to neutralize the “Alouk” water station from political and military conflicts and to subject its administration to a competent and independent civilian team, with international supervision and control, with the Turkish forces ceasing to use it as blackmail.

The condemnation paper demanded that all residents of the northeastern region benefit from water resources in a fair manner, without discrimination of any kind.

For his part, “Jumaa Khazim,” director of the Aso Center for Consultation and Strategic Studies, told ASO News Network that the water from Alouk is feeding areas in North and East Syria, adding that the process of cutting off water to civilians comes at the same time as the world is making efforts to combat the Corona virus.
Khazim is surprised at the behavior of Turkey, the factions, and political exploitation by not respecting the international will and the appeal of the representative of “UNICEF” in Syria that no child should live without a safe water source, as clean water saves hands and lives, calling for not to use water stations for military gain or Political, as children will be most affected.

Khazim adds that the Turkish state, by cutting water to the residents of the region, expresses the lack of humanity in its decisions, and is trying to use the water issue as a political and military pressure card, and a statement and an appeal to the international human rights bodies had to be issued on behalf of all the organizations working in North -East Syria, where they condemn these Abuses, and this war that threatens the lives of nearly a million people in the region.

Khazim adds to ASO News Network by saying, “The aim of this statement by civil society organizations is to convey the voice of the people in the regions of North-East Syria to the international decision centers and actors in the Syrian file, especially since the Turkish state occupies the city of Serekaniye. It has seized Alouhk water station that feeds the city of Hasakah, the town of Tel Temir, and the camps of Al-Hol and Al-Arisha.

Al-Khazim adds, “In short, Turkey’s hostile policy for the region is an eye to investing religion, nationalism and populism and burning what can be burned in order to reach aspirations, and another eye on the water that has become a source of thirst and barter in order to achieve his crazy dream of returning the sick man heritage and installing himself in power For Muslims in the world as he claims”.

It is noteworthy that the Turkish forces, since their occupation of the city of Serekaniye until the moment, have repeatedly intentionally cut off water from “Alouk” station in the regions of North-East Syria, the last of which was on March 21, and before on February 24 this year, through Extremist Syrian opposition factions.