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Turkey risking lives of 600,000 after cutting off water supply to major Syrian ciy

TURKISH forces have continued to place the citizens of the Syrian city of Hasaka at increased risk of coronavirus by cutting off water to the area for a fourth consecutive day, authorities reported yesterday.

Hasaka Water Department director Mahmoud al-Ulka said the lives of about 600,000 people were at risk due to the actions of “the Turkish occupation forces and its mercenaries.”

He said that Turkish troops and their jihadist allies were blocking workers from resuming operations at the Alouk water station. Local authorities have been using emergency supplies in a bid to provide water to Hasaka residents.

Unicef spokeswoman for Syria Fran Equiza warned that the cutting-off of the supply from the Alouk water station during the current efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus “puts children and families at unacceptable risk. Hand-washing with soap is critical in the fight against Covid-19.”

She said that access to safe water is essential to ensure that families aren’t forced to use unsafe water sources.

“Water and water facilities must not be used for military or political gains; when they do, children are the first to suffer,” she said.

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