Category: Water
When the revolution in Rojava began, the groundwater level was very low due mainly to industrial monoculture agriculture organised by the Syrian regime over the last four decades, as well as a decline in rainfall as a result of the global climate crisis.
In 2015, Turkey started to use water as a weapon against Rojava by holding back the water on the rivers which flow from Turkey to Syria through the dams it has been building over the last twenty years.
Then, in October 2019, Turkish state forces invaded some areas of North-East Syria, including the region of Serekaniye, which supplies water to almost half a million people in the region around Hasakah. The Alouk water station in Serekaniye was targeted on the first day of the invasion. Since then it has been fixed and then put out of service again repeatedly.
Since the start of the invasion of Serekaniye, Turkish military forces and their allies have continued to attack water infrastructure, burned newly planted orchards and dammed the rivers providing most of the fresh water and electricity to Syria. Hundreds of thousands of people are currently without safe reliable drinking water, a situation only exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the articles below, you can find more information about issues surrounding water and the struggles for water autonomy in North and East Syria. There are also articles here with information on issues around water in southeastern Turkey, such as Turkish megaproject the Ilisu Dam, whose waters have now submerged the ancient city of Hasankeyf, drowning thousands of years of largely unexcavated human history and displacing an estimated 100,000 people, while giving Turkey unprecedented control over waters of the wider region.
Water crisis deepens in North-East Syria
Drought, insufficient rainfall and the impact of water policies are causing the water crisis in Cizire Canton to deepen. People in villages are facing a severe humanitarian crisis due to the drying up of drinking water and agricultural irrigation sources.
Cooperatives promote women’s economic empowerment in NE Syria
Kongra Star continues to develop projects and establish cooperatives in northeastern Syria to promote women’s economic empowerment.
Harvest of barley starts on foothills of Mount Kizwanan
Women living in the village of Fiwêda, located on the foothills of Mount Kizwanan have already started harvesting barley.
Emergency Water Projects Launched Amid Euphrates Crisis
With the continued decline in the water level of the Euphrates River and the increased demand for water during the summer season, the Tabqa Water Unit has begun implementing several projects related to drinking water pumping stations.
Tishrin Dam in northern Syria on the brink of collapse due to water shortage
A drastic water shortage is bringing the Tishrin Dam in northern Syria to the brink of collapse. Experts warn of a collapse with serious consequences for electricity supply, agriculture, and public health.
https://mesopotamia.coop/cities/afrin/Turkey’s water policies deplete Maydanki Lake in Syria’s Afrin
In the aftermath of the devastating 2023 earthquake that struck northwestern Syria and Turkey, the Turkish governor ordered the local council in Afrin to release half of the stored water from Maydanki Lake, citing concerns about potential damage to the dam.
Women’s Production and Agriculture in Kobani
In the Kaniya Kurdan neighborhood of Kobanê, women grow vegetables and raise livestock to make a living.
First in Euphrates Canton: Production of organic fertilizer
The Ecology Committee of the Euphrates canton in northeastern Syria has developed a project called, “Vermicompost” to produce organic fertilizer. “The project is an alternative to chemical fertilizers,” said Nesrîn Karho.
Vineyards in Raqqa and Tabqa, an important source of income
In the Raqqa and Tabqa cantons, vineyards are considered important as a source of income, and help meet the needs of families.
AKP government’s 22 years of ecological destruction
During the 22 years of AKP rule, the nature of Turkey and Kurdistan has been opened to the rent and plunder of capital. One of the most crucial headings of the ecological disaster identified with the AKP government is the HEPPs.
Small village in far NE Syria thrives via self-sufficiency efforts
Jarudiye is a sparsely populated village on the Turkish-Iraqi-Syrian border triangle in the countryside of Derik, far northeastern Syria. Despite its small size, the residents have taken it upon themselves to manage the affairs of the village to achieve self-sufficiency and supports its development.
