The Turkish state is perpetrating a war crime in North-East Syria

Turkey weaponizes water supply

This war crime in North-East Syria is not the first time the Turkish state has used water supply as a weapon of war against civilians. For a long time, Turkey has used the dams it controls along the Euphrates river to damage the ability of Kurdish farmers to grow and maintain crops. In Dersim, the Turkish redirected rivers, consequently vast tracts of land no longer support plants and animals. This has displaced thousands of people and risks permanent desertification. 

Access to water is a human right

The human right to water and sanitation (HRWAS) has been recognized as a human right by the United Nations General Assembly since July 2010.

“The human right to water entitles everyone to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic uses.”

Furthermore, in the Madrid Rules of 1976, the International Law Association set forth specific prohibitions for the protection of civilian populations and the environment. These prohibitions are also referenced in The Geneva List of Principles on the Protection of Water Infrastructure;

“The diversion of waters for military purposes should be prohibited when it would cause disproportionate suffering to the civilian population or substantial damage to the ecological balance of the area concerned. A diversion that is carried out in order to damage or destroy the minimum conditions of survival of the civilian population or the basic ecological balance of the area concerned or in order to terrorize the population should be prohibited in any case.”

Commons motion

The Freedom for Öcalan campaign condemns this latest war crime in North-East Syria and supports the motion tabled in the UK parliament by the chair of the all-party parliamentary group on North-East Syria, Lloyd Russel-Moyle MP. The early day motion (EDM) is drawing attention to this and other war crimes in North-East Syria and has cross-party support from Chris Stephens (SNP), Jim Shannon (DUP) and Jeremy Corbyn (Labour). 

Weaponisation of water in Syria EDM #874

EDM #874

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