In 2019, Turkey, with the approval of US President Donald Trump, launched a military invasion of northeast Syria known as Operation Spring Peace. This invasion displaced more than 200,000 people and the Syrian non-state military serving as Turkey's ground force have been accused of committing war crimes. President Erdoğan has stated his intention to control a larger area of Syrian territory and establish a "safe zone" for Syrian refugees from Turkey. However, Human Rights Watch has expressed concerns about Erdoğan's plans for demographic engineering and the potential for human rights abuses by Syrian non-state armed groups supported by Turkey in these "safe zones" [3][4].

According to a report from Sky News, Syria relies on the Euphrates River for 80% of its water needs, which is essential for its electrical projects and development. Over a third of Syria's regions also depend on the Euphrates River for electricity, with Aleppo being the most dependent. Turkey has reduced the amount of water from the Euphrates River that flows into Syrian territory to a quarter, causing the power generators in Aleppo, which are built on three dams, to stop working. If Turkey continues to violate the 1987 agreement by limiting the water flow (Syria and Turkey entered into a bilateral agreement in 1987, in which Turkey promised to provide a minimum of 500 cubic meters per second of water to Syria), cities such as Aleppo, Raqqa, DeirEzzor, and Al-Bukamal may face a humanitarian catastrophe. The current water flow is reportedly only 200 cubic meters per second, far below the agreed-upon amount [5][6].

Disrupted and Displaced: The Impact of the Allouk Water Station Shutdown on Northeast Syria

The Allouk water station on Al-Khabour river, as described by the UN as ‘’the primary source of clean drinking water for 460,000 people’’, has been repeatedly disrupted since November 2019, with a total of 24 interruptions. As of June 23, the station has stopped functioning due to maintenance and repair access limitations and a lack of electricity, resulting in a severe water shortage across Al-Hasakeh governorate. And it was also shut down by Turkish strikes in October 2019. The disruption has affected up to 1 million people, including many displaced families in camps and informal settlements who are particularly vulnerable. Turkey is accused of acting as an occupying power in parts of northeast Syria and using the closure of the Allouk water station as a negotiating tactic to use it to leverage negotiations with the Kurdish-led autonomous administration [7][8][9].

Water Shortages and Disease Outbreaks

Shutting down the water station resulted in a water shortage, which hampered efforts to control the spread of coronavirus. Without access to clean water for handwashing, children and families in Syria are at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19. The drought of the river has also created suitable habitats for sand flies, which carry the disease Leishmaniasis. This has led to an increase in cases of the disease in villages surrounding the river. The Syrian Health Ministry declared a cholera outbreak in September 2022, which has been described by the former UN Humanitarian Relief Coordinator as a "serious threat" to the Syrian people and the entire Middle East region. In addition to the threat posed by COVID -19 and water-borne diseases such as cholera and Leishmaniasis, the water shortage in Syria also has severe consequences for the population's overall health and well-being. Access to clean water is essential for basic hygiene and sanitation. Human Rights Watch has called on Turkey to immediately stop contributing to the worsening water crisis in Syria [10][11].

Water Shortages and Agriculture loss 

Local farmers in the Al -Khabour valley have reported that the Turkish projects are responsible for the loss of agriculture and livestock in the region. They pointed out that the low water levels in the river has made it more contaminated as the pollutants become more concentrated in the shallow water, which makes it unsuitable for animals to drink. The farmers also stated that they are unable to plant crops as they used to, due to the lack of irrigation water and they stated that the river valley, which was previously used to cultivate cotton, barley, wheat, and rice, is now barren.

In addition to the impact on agriculture, the water shortage had also affected the fishing industry, Fisherfolks in the region have reported a decline in their livelihoods due to the reduced water levels. The director of water resources in the Shaddadi Agriculture Committee has warned of an imminent disaster that may befall the region due to the decline in agriculture and livestock, which are the mainstay of the region's economy and the livelihood of its residents. Local sources estimate that at least three million people are at risk of food insecurity due to the interruption of irrigation, which is expected to continue unless there is an increase in rainfall. The water shortage is also affecting the availability of drinking water in the region [12][13 ][14][15].

Syrian Citizens and Organizations Speak Out Against Turkey's Control of Water 

The General Activities Committee of the Educational Complex in the Syrian city of Al -Hasakah organized a protest march in which students and teachers participated. The purpose of the protest was to condemn Turkey’s decision to cut off the water supply from the Allouk Water Station in Ras al Ayn. The people of Al -Hasakah and the surrounding area also protested Turkey's actions in cutting off the drinking water, according to the SANA news agency. In addition to the protest in Al-Hasakah, people in Kobani and various local civil society groups also prevented a joint Russian -Turkish patrol from taking place in their areas. 

A total of 124 organizations, including GAV Relief and Development, the Class Peasant Union, the Union of Intellectuals in the Gezira Region, the Union of Agricultural Engineers, and the Union of Teachers of North and East Syria, have called on the international community to intervene and require Turkey to follow the rules of water sharing. Several international organizations, such as PAX for Peace, the United Nations, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Human Rights Watch, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the Center for Violations Documentation, and the Humanitarian Practice Network, have also produced reports about the water shortages in the area and the Turkish actions that have contributed to the crisis. The UN has also called on all parties to the conflict to restore the water flow and ensure the protection of civilians and the delivery of humanitarian assistance [16][17] [18].