Alouk water station out of service for 15 days

Alouk water station is out of service for the 15th day, with drinking water crisis in al-Hasakah city, its countryside and Ras al-Ain, SOHR reports.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that Alouk water station that provides water to al-Hasakah (Heseke) city and its countryside is out of service for the 15th day in a row, along with rising temperature and increasing demand for water consumption.

Also, Ras al-Ain (Serekaniye) city and the countryside, which are controlled by Turkish-backed factions, are suffering from interruption of water due to the loss of equipment needed to extract water.

Residents secure their needs for drinking water through buying water tanks that are often contaminated and cause diarrhea, gastritis and poisoning, amid increasing temperatures.

The observatory noted that Alouk station is under the control of Turkish forces and its proxies in Ras al-Ain countryside in al-Hasakah countryside, while it pumps drinking water to more than one million people in al-Hasaka city and its countryside in return for receiving electricity from al-Swaydia station located within SDF-held area, in accordance with a previous agreement between Turkey and Russia.

On June 26, SOHR activists in al-Hasakah province reported that Turkish forces had suspended work completely in Alouk water station again for yet unknown reasons, which led to interruption of water supplies to al-Hasakah city and surrounding areas. Activists added that water flow was very week during the past 11 days, as water did not reach the whole neighborhoods of al-Hasakah province.

While on April 27, SOHR activists in the countryside of al-Hasakah monitored a Russian patrol heading to al-Asadiya area coming from al-Qamishli, accompanied by electricity maintenance technicians belonging to the Syrian Red Crescent.

“The maintenance workshop entered the areas held by Turkish-backed factions in the countryside of al-Hasakah, under Turkish forces’ protection, then they went to the Alouk water station in the countryside of Ras al-Ain (Sere Kaniye) to make repairs at the station responsible for supplying the city of al-Hasakah and the villages of its countryside with drinking water,” SOHR said.