The BBC World Service has found that repeated air strikes by Turkey on northern Syria have cut off access to mains electricity and water for more than a million people, creating a humanitarian crisis which may have violated international law.
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#BBCEye Investigations collated details of more than a hundred attacks between 2019 and 2024 on oil fields, gas facilities, and power stations in the Kurdish-held region, an area already reeling from years of conflict and climate-driven drought. Namak Khoshnaw reports.
The autonomous northeast region of Syria, known as Rojava, is where Kurdish forces, backed by the US, played a decisive role in defeating the Islamic State group. They hoped it would serve as a future state for Kurdish people. But Turkey’s government accuse the authorities in Rojava of harbouring members of the PKK, a Kurdish militant group it describes as a terrorist organisation. In 2019, after fierce fighting, Turkey’s military took control of an area of Rojava along its border, including a major water station, disrupting the supply to drought-stricken communities.
The BBC has gathered evidence which shows a series of strikes by Turkey in October 2023 and January 2024 hit key electrical facilities, further cutting off power to the water station, and denying much of the region access to clean water.
International lawyers who reviewed the BBC’s findings said Turkey may have violated international law. Turkey claims it “solely” targets terrorist facilities. An independent UN report found no military targets near the affected areas. The BBC contacted the Turkish government to comment, it said Turkey has a right of self-defense against the PKK, that they observe international humanitarian law, and that civilian safety is their main priority.
00:00 Introduction
01:53 Life at 50C: Syria
04:17 Hasaka’s geopolitical issue
05:37 The burden on the ‘Water Board’
07:46 Water not safe to consume
09:10 The impact of climate change
09:57 Alouk water under Turkish control
11:29 Surviving a town without water
14:12 Poverty when water is scarce
18:16 Conflict refugees add pressure on the city
22:49 Turkey’s attack on power and water stations
22:58 Living with lack of electricity
25:40 The only source of drinking water drying up
29:10 Pressure on Ahmed to bring water
30:52 NGO’s exploring alternatives
34:44 The health danger of dirty water
37:29 Neighbourhood fight over water
42:01 Turkey accused of violating international law
44:14 Their war, our water
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This film is part of a new season of the #BBCWorldService series Life at 50°C: Water Crisis, which investigates the most severe aspects of climate change and environmental damage in some of the hottest parts of the world where demand for water is already high – South Sudan, Syria, Australia and Colombia. Catch up on the whole series here: [ Ссылка ]
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