Turkey's airstrikes in northeast Syria cut off electricity and water supplies to more than 1 million people in a humanitarian crisis. Experts have termed it a potential violation of international law. The British media reported the news.
From 2019 to January 2024, Türkiye carried out more than 100 strikes in Syria's Kurdish-dominated northeastern region. These attacks have targeted oil fields, gas installations and power stations. The region is now facing a humanitarian crisis, affected by a long civil war and extreme drought.
An attack in October 2023 led to the closure of the Aluk water station. At one time, one million people of Hasakeh province used to get water from this station. Now water is supplied by tankers from a distance of about 20 km.
Türkiye said it targeted Kurdish separatists' sources of income and capacity. But they have been claiming that civilian infrastructure was not targeted. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said last year that PKK and YPG infrastructure and power installations are our legitimate targets.
The BBC found on the ground that people in the town of Hasakeh have been waiting for a long time to get water from tankers. Tanker driver Ahmad Al-Ahmad said, here water is more expensive than gold. People just want some water.
Yahya Ahmad, co-director of the Hasakeh city water board, said northeast Syria is now in a humanitarian crisis.
The Kurdish-controlled autonomous administration has accused Türkiye of trying to destroy the existence of its people. International law expert Arif Abraham said such an attack by Turkey could be a serious violation of international law.
Since Türkiye captured Ras al-Ain in 2019, water supply to Aluk water station has been cut off repeatedly. According to the United Nations, water supply was interrupted 19 times from 2019 to 2021.
A UN report in February 2024 said that attacks on power infrastructure could constitute a war crime. International lawyer Patrick Crocker said violations of international law should be investigated.
Türkiye, however, has denied the allegations, claiming to comply with international law and blaming climate change and poor local infrastructure for the water crisis.
