Turkey, Syria and Iraq are all heavily dependent on water from the Euphrates – the main water artery that runs through the region. Fair use of the river has been a problem for the three since the 1970s. Natural drought can be an immense driver of conflict in itself, not to mention deliberate blockages. On May 13, the Syrian government had to cope with a devastating water shortage in Aleppo after extremists reportedly turned it off, putting two million people in mortal danger. However, only two weeks later, the Lebanese newspaper alleged that the Turkish government was complicit in this, allegations that Ankara rejected. When the water supply was last cut in June, levels in man-made Lake Assad dropped by six meters, putting millions of Syrians without drinking water, the Al-Akhbar newspaper reported. The gradual reduction of water flow had been taking place over a period of a month-and-a-half. Nonetheless, according to the newspaper, Al-Akhbar’s interview with an anonymous source revealed Turkey had decided to intervene in the Syrian conflict by cutting the water supply from the river, something civilians began to refer to as the “water wars” waged at their expense. Turkey is currently involved in a hostage situation following the June 11 kidnapping by the IS of 49 of its staff from the consulate in Mosul, Iraq, a situation that still has not been resolved. rt/news/179352-euphrates-is-militants-turkey/
Posted on: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 15:34:31 +0000
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