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Turkey: River Euphrates

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

UIN HL8958, tabled on 30 June 2023

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Turkey about their alleged violation of the 1987 agreement concerning water flow on the river Euphrates, leading to acute shortages of water for drinking and irrigation in the provinces of (1) Hasakah, (2) Raqqa, (3) Deir ez Zor, and (4) Aleppo, and consequent risks of (a) cholera, (b) hepatitis, and (c) typhoid fever.

Answered on

13 July 2023

The UK is monitoring water supply issues in north east Syria, which are limiting 5 million people's access to water. We have raised the humanitarian issue of water availability with all parties in the region, including Turkey, and we are working with our partners to prioritise our funds for the most acute needs.

The UK also continues to monitor health across Syria closely, and responded specifically to the Cholera outbreak with a £2 million contribution to UNICEF's response announced in November 2022 to help prevent the spread of cholera, including in north east Syria.