ANKARA-  The International Water Workshop held in Northern and Eastern Syria has come to an end. In the final declaration announced, it was decided to apply to the UN and the EU with a report to be prepared on the results of the water policies pursued by Turkey, which was accused of violating international law. 

 

The International Water Workshop organized by the Northern and Eastern Syria Autonomous Administration in Hesekê with the participation of 300 delegates between September 27-28 came to an end. Non-governmental organizations, international humanitarian organizations, ecology associations and legal platforms took part in the workshop organized by the Cizre Region Local Administrations and Environment Committee.

 

Speakers discussed and evaluated the water problem in the context of global climate change, diminishing resources, the effects of water policies on politics and economy, food security and international law. Participants accused Turkey of carrying out a "policy of hostility" towards Syrians, Iraqis and other neighboring countries by cutting off the water of the Euphrates, and described this as a "crime against humanity".

 

WATER PROBLEM WITH VISUALS

 

A photography exhibition was also held at the workshop, revealing the consequences of Turkey's water policies in Northern and Eastern Syria. Ehmed Mardini, Co-chair of the Photography Association, expressed that they wanted to draw attention to three main issues with the exhibition: the difficulties faced by the people of the region in accesing drinking water, the damage to the nature of the Euphrates Region, and the effects of the water problem on animals and nature throughout the Autonomous Region and Syria.

 

SOLUTIONS

 

The 5th session of the workshop was attended by Rojava University Geography Department Lecturer Heval Fatimi, Engineer Azad Eli, Geology Specialist and Autonomous Administration Executive Council Co-Chair Jozêf Lehdo and Secretary General of the Austrian Kurdish Studies Union, Thomas Schmidinger.

 

In this section, alternative water use and its effects on water security, the status of basic water resources, the dangers of water reducement, and solutions and possibilities for ensuring water security were discussed.

 

SUGGESTIONS

 

Speakers pointed out that the use of water by unscientific methods such as digging wells or irrigation of agricultural lands through water channels reduces the chance of using water in times of need and negatively affects the environment and the region. The speakers presented suggestions for the correct use of drinking and irrigation water, storing the required amount of water in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and active use of wells.

 

After the sessions held, the workshop ended with a final declaration. The following was underlined in the declaration read by Organizing Committee Member Dr. Ebdullah Mistefa;

 

“The Turkish state's use of water as a weapon against Syria and Iraq has been harshly condemned.

 

* A report to be prepared on the Turkish state's practices that disregard international law will be submitted to the UN, EU and other legal and humanitarian institutions.

 

* The international community should exert pressure to prevent the Turkish state from using water as a means of war.

 

* In order to prosecute the crimes of the Turkish state, a lawsuit should be filed in the international criminal court.