Water Scarcity Emergency | Suleimann and Leila Story

Leila, and one of her children, in their makeshift tent in Raqqa.

MSB100716

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Water Scarcity Emergency | Manipulation of water resources severely impacting people’s health

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Unique Identifier Code / URN MSB100716

Date taken / Date Recorded 06/06/2021 12:00 AM

Country Syria

Detailed location Raqqa

Commissioning section MSF-NETHERLANDS

Photographer / videographer / producer Florent Vergnes

Usage Rights (MSF) External Media, MSF Fundraising, MSF Publications, Social Media

Formal Consent Copy available no

Project section Northeast Syria

Editor's rating ★★★ (F)

Maximum Size 6191px × 4127px 12.02 MB

Additional Information / Shotlist The people of northeast Syria are impacted by the severe reduction in volume of water flowing in the Euphrates River, which originates in Turkey and is the the most significant source of water for northeast Syria. Since January 2021, plummeting water levels due to reduced rainfall and insufficient water released from Turkey’s dams into northeast Syria has resulted in low electricity production, reduced water quantity and quality, as well as reduced agriculture output. With northeast Syria known as the “breadbasket” for the whole country, indirectly all of Syria could soon start to feel the effects of the critically low water levels.

Additionally, as a result of poorer quality of water and reduced availability, people have been significantly affected by water-borne disease and food insecurity, causing concerning levels of malnutrition which has disproportionately impacted children. In Raqqa, MSF conducted a simple malnutrition assessment of children aged between six months to under five years, over one month from June-July 2021. Out of 8,728 children screened across seven primary health care facilities in Raqqa city, 10% had moderate acute malnutrition and 3% severe acute malnutrition. Malnourished children came from a large number of locations in northeast Syria, suggesting that the issue is widespread.

Special instructions Independent assignment not embedded with MSF so no copy of standard MSF consent available but all consent given.