The following letter was sent to the UK Foreign Secretary on Saturday 6 November 2021.
Dear Foreign Secretary
We are writing to urge your immediate action to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in northern and eastern Syria where tens of thousands now lack water due to the actions of Turkey and its proxies following their military occupation of border areas in 2019. Turkish-backed militia have deliberately cut off water supplies to the 500,000 people who live in al-Hasakeh governorate, with severe consequences for the lives and livelihoods of the local people. As you will be aware, cutting off water to civilian populations by parties to an armed conflict is a war crime. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the UK has a privileged responsibility and overwhelming obligation to investigate and take action.
A letter detailing our concerns is attached.
We would request that you acknowledge this letter and respond with the UK’s intended actions.
Your Sincerely,
Nicholas Hildyard, The Corner House
Dr. Thomas Jeffrey Miley, University of Cambridge
Dr Felix Padel, Research Associate, Centre for World Environment History, University of Sussex
Margaret Owen OBE, barrister, Widows for Peace through Democracy
Federico Venturini, PhD, University of Udine (Italy)
John Hunt, journalist
Connor Healy, Independent Researcher
David Morgan, journalist
Bert Schouwenburg, International trade union advisor
Estella Schmid, Peace in Kurdistan
Campaign against Criminalising Communities (CAMPACC)
Pishtiwan Jalal, President, Kurdish Alliance of North America
Kristy Perano, Co-President, Kurdish Alliance of North America
Dr. Ebad Rouhi, Department of Law, Sanandaj Brach, Islamic Azad
University, Sanandaj, Iran.
Xeyal Qertel, Founder of New York Kurdish Film and Cultural Festival
Dr. Nicholas S.M. Matheou, Armenian Institute, London
Roz Bird, Navigate Cooperative – Facilitation for Social Change
Marko Ulvila, Finland
Dr Sarah Glynn,Scotland
Dr Andrea Brock, Lecturer in International Relations Centre for Global Political Economy, University of Sussex, UK
Dr Anthony Ince, Senior Lecturer in Human Geography, Cardiff University
London Kurdistan Solidarity
Ersilia Verlinghieri, Research Associate, University of Oxford
Prof. Andreas Bieler, Professor of Political Economy, School of Politics and International Relations, University of Nottingham
Frank Moulaert, Em. Professor of Spatial Planning Planning & Development, Faculty of Engineering, Heverlee, Belgium
Solidarity Economy Association, UK
Mahvish Ahmad, Assistant Professor in Human Rights and Politics, Department of Sociology, London School of Economics and Political Science
Trevor Rayne Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!
The above letter can be downloaded here in PDF format: Water Crisis in NE Syria – Letter to Foreign Secretary 6.11.21