ANKARA - Heyva Sor a Kurd noted that 815 thousand people's access to water is under threat due to Turkey's attacks in Northern and Eastern Syria and noted that attacks against civilians are a violation of international humanitarian law.

 

Heyva Sor a Kurd (Kurdish Red Crescent) made a statement regarding the air strikes carried out by Turkey between 26 December 2023 and 17 January 2024. In the statement, which drew attention to the damage caused by Turkish attacks on civilian areas, it was emphasized that international public pressure must be increased to stop the attacks immediately.

 

The explanation is as follows:

 

ATTACKS THREATEN THE ACCESS TO WATER FOR 815 THOUSAND PEOPLE

 

Status update on the airstrikes by the Turkish state between 26.12.23 and 17.01.24 The previous attacks were primarily directed against civilian critical infrastructure. The attacks were mainly aimed at energy resources, but food supplies and medical facilities were also affected. A cement factory near Kobane was attacked, and while the firefighters were putting out the fire, there was another attack on the factory. In Derbasiye, a house was destroyed, and a woman and two children were injured. Between 13th-15th of January: At least 7 employees were seriously injured in an attack on the Swediyeh gas extraction plant. The Swediyeh Gas Station, serving over 920,000 people, is completely non-operational. Four electricity transfer substations in Hasakah governorate were taken fully out of service. Consequently, the Alouk Water Station is now completely isolated from the grid, 96 boreholes across the governorate are non-operational, and 80 boreholes are operating on rapidly dwindling stocks of fuel, threatening access to water for over 815,076 inhabitants in NES (source: NES Forum). A total of 53 gas and oil production facilities and warehouses were hit.

 

9 DISTRICTS AND 1,232 VILLAGES LEFT WITHOUT ELECTRICITY

 

In Al-Jazeera district alone, 7 power supply facilities were directly destroyed, indirectly affected, and until further notice no longer in operation are 9 main power transfer stations in: Derbasiye, Amuda, Qamishli, Tirbesipye, Derik, Swediye, Tilkocer, Til Elo, Til Tewil. As a result, 9 towns and 1,232 villages were completely or partially without electricity. In Kobane, Targeting of a transfer station led to the loss of electricity in the city and 550 villages around Kobane and Ain Issa.

 

CANCER WARD ACTIVITIES ARE STOPPED

 

Private households as well as public institutions such as public hospitals, clinics, bakeries, and wheat mills had to stop their operations completely or partially (according to the energy department of the self-administration). This also includes the newly opened cancer ward of the Kurdish Red Crescent. Although most hospitals have emergency generators, they are far from being able to cover the entire electricity demand due to the huge lack in Fuel. In addition, water pumps cannot be operated, which means that millions of private households and public facilities can no longer be adequately supplied with water. In addition to wheat warehouses, a seed warehouse was also hit. Fresh seed was already a problem before and will now increase the food shortage and becoming a long-term and sustainable problem.

 

ATTACKS ARE VIOLATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW

 

The Turkish government is taking advantage of the media's focus on the Israel-Palestine war and destroying the basic life needs for the people in NES. We consider the targeted attacks on civilian infrastructure as an attack on the civilian population and a violation of international humanitarian law. We call on the international community to take a stand and force Turkey to stop the attacks on civilian infrastructure immediately.