By More than a million people in northeast Syria have lost access to water and electricity following sustained Turkish airstrikes targeting critical infrastructure in Kurdish-controlled territories, compounding an already severe humanitarian crisis in the drought-ravaged region.
Analysis by the BBC World Service reveals Turkey conducted over 100 attacks between October 2019 and January 2024, targeting oil fields, gas facilities, and power stations in the Kurdish-administered Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). The most devastating impact came from October 2023 attacks that disabled the crucial Alouk water station, which remains non-operational.
“Water is more precious than gold here,” says Ahmad al-Ahmed, a water tanker driver in Hassakeh city, where residents desperately await daily water deliveries. Local authorities now transport water from approximately 12 miles away, prioritizing schools, orphanages, and hospitals, though supplies fall critically short of demand.
Satellite imagery analyzed by NASA scientist Ranjay Shrestha confirms widespread power outages following January 2024 strikes. “On January 18th… a significant power outage is evident in the region,” Shrestha reported after reviewing night-time illumination data.
The Turkish government defends its actions, stating it targets “sources of income and capabilities” of Kurdish separatist groups it considers terrorists. While acknowledging the region’s drought conditions, Turkish officials attribute water scarcity partially to poor management and neglected infrastructure.
The crisis reflects broader regional tensions, as northeast Syria’s residents find themselves caught between multiple conflicts: Syria’s ongoing civil war, Turkey’s campaign against Kurdish forces, and the international coalition’s continued presence preventing Islamic State resurgence.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has labeled the AANES a “terror state,” claiming its dominant Kurdish militia is an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which both Turkey and Western allies designate as a terrorist organization.
“North-east Syria is facing a humanitarian catastrophe,” warns Yahya Ahmed, co-director of Hassakeh’s water board. The AANES has accused Turkey of attempting to “destroy our people’s existence” through the systematic targeting of vital infrastructure.
Between October 2023 and January 2024, Turkish forces struck electricity transfer stations in Amouda, Qamishli, and Darbasiyah, along with the region’s main Swadiyah power plant. The BBC confirmed these attacks through satellite imagery, eyewitness accounts, news reports, and site visits.
A bbc.com report
