Syria: Killing the Khabur: How Turkish-backed Armed Groups Blocked Northeast Syria’s Water Lifeline

Nov 3, 2021 | Wim Zwijnenburg
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With historic mentions by ancient Greek writers and the Bible, the Khabur river and its valley have been an important water source in the region.  The summer of 2021 was one of the hottest ever recorded in northeast Syria. The impact of the extreme heat was magnified by very limited rainfall, which meant agricultural communities had less water than ever at their time of greatest need. The suffering of rural communities across northeast Syria controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is being amplified by Turkish-backed armed groups. The cutting of the river’s flow came at a time of severe drought and high diesel prices, which are preventing many farmers from operating their pumps. With no irrigation, vast tracts of agricultural land are being left fallow.