KURDISH authorities fear a humanitarian disaster in northern Syria where Turkey is accused of deliberately inducing a drought by cutting off water from the Euphrates River.

Water levels have declined by up to two-thirds, with Syrian farmers in Qara Qawzaq — just outside Kobane — warning that their livelihood will be seriously hit by the shortages.

Electricity used to power water pumps to irrigate their land has dropped from a supply of 18 hours a day to just 10 as authorities try to avert a devastating drought.