Five Months Without Water in Manbij, Raising Fears of a Health and Livelihood Crisis

The city of Manbij, located in eastern Aleppo countryside, is facing a severe drinking water crisis that began around five months ago and continues to this day, according to local residents.

Several residents told ASO News Network that the water outage has burdened them with additional costs, as the price of purchasing water from tankers exceeds 300,000 Syrian pounds per month per family — a sum that many cannot afford given the worsening economic conditions.

Mohammad Al-Ahmad, a resident of the Saba’ Bahrat neighborhood, said his family now relies on well water despite its poor quality. He added that his children have started to suffer from skin infections due to using this water, and noted, “We’re resorting to any available source, even if it’s unsafe.”

In the Sarb neighborhood, Abdelqader Al-Khalaf spoke about how some water tanker operators are exploiting the crisis amid the absence of proper oversight. He claimed that some tankers fill up from areas near swamps, which increases health risks.

Abu Issa, a tanker owner in the city, pointed to the challenges they face in filling water — from long wait times to the rising cost of purchase. “We’re suffering too, and the situation is getting worse as summer approaches,” he said.

According to a confidential source who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons, Oxfam had previously announced plans to repair water pumps within 40 days. However, that timeframe has passed without improvement. The source accused both the organization and local water authorities of negligence.

As the crisis worsens, residents are calling for urgent intervention to repair the network and ensure access to safe water, especially amid growing fears of disease outbreaks linked to the use of contaminated water.