Condemnations for the crime of cutting off drinking water of Hasaka by Turkish occupation

The Chairman  of the Syrian Association of the United Nations George Jabbour has called on the Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres to intervene directly and immediately to save the residents of Al-Hasakah  from thirst, after the Turkish occupation forces continued to cut off drinking water.

In a message addressed to Guterres, Jabbour said  that the Turkish regime is cutting off drinking water to the residents of the city of Al- Hasaka and its suburbs, stressing that this crime exacerbates the seriousness of the humanitarian situation in the region and violates international humanitarian laws.

In turn, the International Council for Supporting a Fair Trial and Human Rights condemned in the strongest terms the crime of cutting off water for about a million civilians in the city of al-Hasaka, shouldering the Turkish occupation fully responsible for their lives, especially at a time when water is the most important means of preventing Coronavirus.

The Council said  that the use of water as a weapon against civilians is not only a violation of international laws and conventions, but rather a “war crime” and collective punishment of civilians and using them as a pressure card in political matters.

The Council called on the Turkish regime to re-pump water to al-Hasakahand using the Alouk water station as a blackmail card.

The Council called on  the international community and the concerned bodies at the United Nations to take immediate action to address this humanitarian issue.

The Council stated that it is not the first time that the Turkish occupation cuts off water of  the city of al-Hasaka, as this crime has been repeated more than 15 times since its occupation of Ras al-Ain and its countryside until now, in violation of international and humanitarian conventions and protocols, including the Geneva Convention of 1949 and the Additional Protocols of 1977.

The International Covenant of the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 1976 guarantees the right of everyone to adequate and safe water.

O. al-Mohammad