SYRIA: Oil pollution caused by Turkish airstrikes on Kurdish-held areas in Syria is contaminating crucial water sources, jeopardizing crops and livestock for already struggling farmers.
Nizar al-Awwad, like many farmers in northeast Syria, has had to abandon irrigating his land due to a recent oil spill contaminating the local river. Residents and officials blame the spill on Turkish airstrikes targeting Kurdish-affiliated oil facilities last month.
“Using the polluted water would be killing our land,” explains Awwad, highlighting the dire situation faced by farmers already grappling with drought and fuel shortages. The oil spill adds another layer of hardship to their already precarious livelihoods.
Oil pollution has been a growing concern in war-torn Syria, where infrastructure damage and competing control over oil resources exacerbate the issue. Residents in Hasakeh province point to the oil slicks appearing after Turkish airstrikes on oil infrastructure in Rmeilan and Qahtaniyah, alleging these attacks caused the spill.
The contamination adds significant stress to farmers already navigating a multitude of challenges. Twelve years of conflict, climate change, and a crippled economy have created a grueling environment. Long power cuts and fuel shortages further complicate agricultural production.
While repairs to the damaged infrastructure are underway, authorities warn against using the polluted water for irrigation or livestock consumption. Mohammed al-Aswad, co-chair of the Kurdish administration’s water authority, emphasizes the potential ecological damage if the spill reaches the Khabour River dam.
“The sheep can’t be drinking from the river,” says farmer Ibrahim al-Mufdi, expressing concern for both animal and fish health. He, like many others, has been forced to rely on scarce rainfall for irrigation, hoping it will be enough to sustain their crops.
